Learn more about overweight and obesity Increase Physical Activity Moving more can lower your risk factors for heart disease. Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet Eating a healthy diet is the key to heart disease prevention. Know and Control Your Heart Health Numbers Tracking your heart health stats can help you meet your heart health goals.

Download the BMI calculator app today available for iPhone. Health Professional Resources. Measures of body composition in blacks and whites: a comparative review.

High adiposity and high body mass index-for-age in US children and adolescents overall and by race-ethnic group. Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies.

Lancet , , pp. doi: Epub Aug Inflammation- sensitive plasma proteins are associated with future weight gain. Aug ; 52 08 : Oxidative stress in obesity: a critical component in human diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Dec ; 16 1 Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search.

Español Other Languages. About Adult BMI. Español Spanish Print. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. How is BMI used? What are the BMI trends for adults in the United States? Why is BMI used to measure overweight and obesity?

What are other ways to assess excess body fatness besides BMI? How is BMI calculated? How is BMI interpreted for adults? Is BMI interpreted the same way for children and teens as it is for adults? How good is BMI as an indicator of body fatness?

If an athlete or other person with a lot of muscle has a BMI over 25, is that person still considered to be overweight? What are the health consequences of obesity for adults? The standard weight status categories associated with BMI ranges for adults are shown in the following table.

BMI Weight Status Below Connect with Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Last Reviewed: June 3, Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. home Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity. The good news is even a small weight loss between 5 and 10 percent of your current weight will help lower your risk of developing those diseases.

The BMI Calculator is an easy-to-use online tool to help you estimate body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk of obesity-related disease.

Health Topics The Science Grants and Training News and Events About NHLBI. Health Professional Resources. Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk Assessment of weight and health risk involves using three key measures: Body mass index BMI Waist circumference Risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity Body Mass Index BMI BMI is a useful measure of overweight and obesity.

Although BMI can be used for most men and women, it does have some limits: It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build. It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle. The BMI score means the following: BMI Underweight Below Risk Factors High blood pressure hypertension High LDL cholesterol "bad" cholesterol Low HDL cholesterol "good" cholesterol High triglycerides High blood glucose sugar Family history of premature heart disease Physical inactivity Cigarette smoking.

Healthy Weight Tip Waist circumference can help assess your weight and associated health risk. Check Your BMI The BMI Calculator is an easy-to-use online tool to help you estimate body fat. Back to top. Related Government Websites Health and Human Services external link National Institutes of Health Office of the Inspector General external link USA.

Inside the square where your weight and height meet is a number that is an estimate of your BMI. For example, if you weigh pounds and are 5'7", your BMI is As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.

Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk Assessment of weight and health risk involves using three key measures: Body mass index BMI Waist circumference Risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity Body Mass Index BMI BMI is a useful measure of overweight and obesity.

Although BMI can be used for most men and women, it does have some limits: It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build. It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle.

The BMI score means the following: BMI Underweight Below Risk Factors High blood pressure hypertension High LDL cholesterol "bad" cholesterol Low HDL cholesterol "good" cholesterol High triglycerides High blood glucose sugar Family history of premature heart disease Physical inactivity Cigarette smoking.

Healthy Weight Tip Waist circumference can help assess your weight and associated health risk. Check Your BMI The BMI Calculator is an easy-to-use online tool to help you estimate body fat.

Back to top. Related Government Websites Health and Human Services external link National Institutes of Health Office of the Inspector General external link USA. gov external link. Stay Connected Live Chat external link Live Chat with us, Monday through Friday, a.

to p. The BMI score means the following:. Measuring waist circumference helps screen for possible health risks that come with overweight and obesity. This risk goes up with a waist size that is greater than 35 inches for women or greater than 40 inches for men. To correctly measure your waist, stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hipbones.

Measure your waist just after you breathe out. The table Risks of Obesity-Associated Diseases by BMI and Waist Circumference provides you with an idea of whether your BMI combined with your waist circumference increases your risk for developing obesity-associated diseases or conditions.

Along with being overweight or obese, the following conditions will put you at greater risk for heart disease and other conditions:. For people who are considered obese BMI greater than or equal to 30 or those who are overweight BMI of 25 to Even a small weight loss between 5 and 10 percent of your current weight will help lower your risk of developing diseases associated with obesity.

People who are overweight, do not have a high waist measurement, and have fewer than two risk factors may need to prevent further weight gain rather than lose weight. Talk to your doctor to see whether you are at an increased risk and whether you should lose weight.

Your doctor will evaluate your BMI, waist measurement, and other risk factors for heart disease. The good news is even a small weight loss between 5 and 10 percent of your current weight will help lower your risk of developing those diseases.

The BMI Calculator is an easy-to-use online tool to help you estimate body fat.