Adult BMI chart: ranges and categories
Use the standard adult BMI chart for underweight, healthy weight, overweight and the three obesity classes.
The standard BMI categories for most adults are:
| BMI | Category |
|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5–24.9 | Healthy weight |
| 25.0–29.9 | Overweight |
| 30.0–34.9 | Obesity, class 1 |
| 35.0–39.9 | Obesity, class 2 |
| 40.0 or above | Obesity, class 3 |
Calculate BMI as weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. A person at 70 kg and 1.75 m, for example, has a BMI of about 22.9, within the healthy-weight reference range.
Keep decimals when comparing a result with a cutoff. More importantly, remember that the table is a screening framework. It does not measure body fat directly or account for muscle, fat distribution, age-related body-composition changes and health history.
The table is not used this way for children and teenagers, who require BMI-for-age percentiles. Current pregnancy weight also needs pregnancy-specific interpretation.
Use the BMI calculator to obtain your exact value and then consider the broader context.