Body Mass Index Chart

A body mass index chart lets you find your BMI in seconds by matching your height and weight on a table – no calculator needed. Developed from Adolphe Quetelet’s formula in the 1830s and adopted by the WHO in the 1990s, BMI remains the most widely used screening tool for underweight, overweight, and obesity in adults worldwide.

This article is for informational purposes only. BMI is a screening metric, not a diagnostic tool. Consult a healthcare professional for a full assessment of your weight status.

Body Mass Index Chart – Imperial (lbs / ft-in)

Find the row that matches your weight and the column that matches your height. The number in the intersection is your BMI.

Reading the legend: Under 18.5 – underweight · 18.5–24.9 – normal · 25.0–29.9 – overweight · 30.0 and above – obese.

Body Mass Index Chart – Metric (kg / cm)

What Are the BMI Categories?

The World Health Organization classifies adult BMI into the following groups:

Asian adults may face elevated metabolic risks starting at a BMI of 23, which is why some national health bodies in China, Japan, India, and Singapore use lower thresholds for the overweight category.

How to Read the Body Mass Index Chart

1. Locate your height along the column header of the appropriate table (imperial or metric).
2. Find your weight in the left-most column.
3. Read the intersection – that number is your BMI.
4. Compare the result against the WHO categories table above.

For a value that falls between two rows, you can estimate by averaging or use a precise calculator. If your exact height or weight is missing from the chart, interpolation between the nearest values gives a close approximation.

How to Calculate BMI Without the Chart

If your exact numbers are not in the table, the formula is straightforward.

Metric:

BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height² (m²)

Example: a person who weighs 72 kg and is 1.75 m tall → 72 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = 23.5

Imperial:

BMI = (weight (lbs) × 703) ÷ height² (in²)

Example: a person who weighs 165 lbs and is 5′7″ (67 in) tall → (165 × 703) ÷ (67 × 67) = 25.9

The calculator above handles both unit systems and returns the result along with the corresponding WHO category instantly.

Limitations of the Body Mass Index Chart

BMI is a useful screening metric, but it has well-documented blind spots:

• Does not distinguish muscle from fat. Athletes and strength-trained individuals can register a BMI above 25 despite having a low body-fat percentage.
• Ignores fat distribution. Two people with the same BMI may carry weight very differently. Visceral (abdominal) fat carries higher cardiometabolic risk than subcutaneous fat, but BMI cannot tell them apart.
• Age-related changes. Lean body mass declines with age, so an older adult at a “normal” BMI may actually have excess body fat relative to muscle.
• Not valid for children under 20. Growing bodies require BMI-for-age percentile charts (CDC growth charts, WHO growth standards).
• Pregnancy. Weight gain during pregnancy makes BMI calculations unreliable for expectant mothers.

For a more complete picture, healthcare providers often pair BMI with waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, or direct body-fat measurement via DXA or bioelectrical impedance.

When Should You See a Doctor About Your BMI?

A BMI reading alone rarely warrants a doctor visit, but these situations call for professional guidance:

• BMI consistently below 18.5 without an obvious cause such as a high-activity lifestyle – unintentional weight loss can signal underlying conditions.
• BMI in the obese range (≥ 30) combined with elevated blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol.
• Rapid weight change of more than 5% of body weight in one month without lifestyle changes.
• A family history of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or metabolic syndrome paired with an above-normal BMI.

A primary care physician can order blood panels, assess cardiovascular markers, and recommend an evidence-based plan tailored to your health profile.