Classification of Overweight and Obesity by BMI, Waist Circumference, and Associated Disease Risks
				Disease Risk* Relative to Normal Weight and Waist Circumference
	BMI (kg/m2)	Weight for 5'-7"	Obesity Class	Men ≤ 40 in Women ≤ 35	Men > 40 in Women > 35 in
Underweight	< 18.5	≤ 118		-	-
Normal	18.5 - 24.9	119-159		-	-
Overweight	25.0 - 29.9	160-191		Increased	High
Obesity	30.0 - 34.9	192-222	I	High	Very High
	35.0 - 39.9	223-254	II	Very High	Very High
Extreme Obesity	40.0 +	255+	III	Extremely High	Extremely High

*     Disease risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).
    There is evidence that risk for type 2 diabetes starts to increased at BMI > 22.
+     Increased waist circumference can also be a marker for increased risk even in persons of normal weight.
Source: Classification and Risks of Overweight and Obesity at the NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Note: BMI Does not work for persons younger than 18, Frail or sedentary elderly people, Competitive athletes, Bodybuilders, Pregnant or nursing women. e.g. "Michael Jordan and Mark McGwire have had BMIs of 30." Body Fat is a better measurement.
BMI Calculator and percentile for age/sex at halls.md

Note:

1. children < 18 yrs. should have a lower BMI.
2. In the past it was thought that concern started when a man's BMI hits 28 and a woman's 27, but the 25 cutoff was chosen because of evidence that high blood pressure and cholesterol increase around that point.
3. In 1997 the World Health Organization (WHO) designated 25-29.9 as "preobese". The next year the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) adopted the same standard and called the new category "overweight".
4. There are studies which indicate health risks for diabetes goes up 25% for each unit of BMI over 22.
5. Some consider BMI < 21 to be underweight. (vegetarian-diet.info/)
6. In his book "The Obesity Myth" Paul Campos argues that the real health problem is too little excercise not too much weight.
7. Recent studies have shown that people who were undernourished in early life and then become obese in adulthood
8. In analysis carried out for World Health Report 2002, approximately 58% of diabetes and 21% of ischaemic heart disease and 8-42% of certain cancers globally were attributable to a BMI above 21 kg/m².
9. According to the NIH (www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/databriefs/adultweight.pdf) The percent of persons who are overweight or obese increased from 56 percent in 1988-94 to 64 percent in 1999-2000.
10. According to a 2003 report, the National Center for Health Statistics indicate 15 percent of children ages 6 to 18 were overweight in 2000, up from 6 percent in 1980. (www.betterhealthusa.com/public/227.cfm)
11. Mean BMI's for Africa and Asia are 22-23 while mean BMI's for North America and Europe are 25-27. (WHO)

See Also:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) - Obesity Guidelines and Assess Your Risk
U.S. Obesity Trends 1985 to 2000 at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO) - Obesity and Overweight
The inventors of the Mediterranean diet have become the most overweight people in Europe 35% or Greeks are overweight compared to 17% of Dutch.
International Obesity TaskForce Press Statement

Table

To use the table, find the appropriate height in the left-hand column labeled Height. Move across to a given weight. The number at the top of the column is the BMI at that height and weight.

BMI	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33
Height	Body Weight (pounds)
4-10	91	96	100	105	110	115	119	124	129	134	138	143	148	153	158
4-11	94	99	104	109	114	119	124	128	133	138	143	148	153	158	163
5-0	97	102	107	112	118	123	128	133	138	143	148	153	158	163	168
5-1	100	106	111	116	122	127	132	137	143	148	153	158	164	169	174
5-2	104	109	115	120	126	131	136	142	147	153	158	164	169	175	180
5-3	107	113	118	124	130	135	141	146	152	158	163	169	175	180	186
5-4	110	116	122	128	134	140	145	151	157	163	169	174	180	186	192
5-5	114	120	126	132	138	144	150	156	162	168	174	180	186	192	198
5-6	118	124	130	136	142	148	155	161	167	173	179	186	192	198	204
5-7	121	127	134	140	146	153	159	166	172	178	185	191	198	204	211
5-8	125	131	138	144	151	158	164	171	177	184	190	197	203	210	216
5-9	128	135	142	149	155	162	169	176	182	189	196	203	209	216	223
5-10	132	139	146	153	160	167	174	181	188	195	202	209	216	222	229
5-11	136	143	150	157	165	172	179	186	193	200	208	215	222	229	236
6-0	140	147	154	162	169	177	184	191	199	206	213	221	228	235	242
6-1	144	151	159	166	174	182	189	197	204	212	219	227	235	242	250
6-2	148	155	163	171	179	186	194	202	210	218	225	233	241	249	256
6-3	152	160	168	176	184	192	200	208	216	224	232	240	248	256	264
6-4	156	164	172	180	189	197	205	213	221	230	238	246	254	263	271
See expanded table at NIH - National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute BMI Calculator and percentile for age/sex at halls.md and Calculator at NIH.

Relation to Frame Size
Carbon Echo

Return to Health/Weight.