Home Food Standards Agency - Body Mass Index Calculator Food Standards Agency - Body Mass Index Calculator

How heavy am I?

 

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Am I the right weight?

Using the body mass index table below, you can understand your level of weight. Find your weight along the top and size on the side.


Underweight (BMI less than 18.5)
 
Healthy weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9)
 
Overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9)
 
Obese (BMI 30 to 39.9)
 
Extremely obese (BMI 40 and above)

U, this may be of concern. You may need to put on weight, in which case this should be as part of a well-balanced and nutritious diet. If your weight is very low, consult your GP.

Ok range, you don't need to lose weight. You're eating the right amount of food to keep your weight in the desirable range for health, but it's still important to make sure you're eating a healthy balanced diet. If your weight is at the lower end of the range, try to maintain it and don't be tempted to aim for the underweight category.

Overweight for your height, make sure you don't put on any more weight. Try to cut down on the amount you're eating, especially food and drinks high in fat or sugar, and try to do more physical activity. Aim to lose half to one kilogram (one to two pounds) a week, until you get down to the OK weight range. Check with your GP if you need to lose weight and you've had problems losing it in the past. 

O level (or fat/very fat on the 'Are you the right weight for your height?' chart), this could increase your risk of heart disease, Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis. If you fall into this group, it's important for you to lose weight. If you've had problems trying to lose weight in the past, check with your GP first.

Calculating the BMI:
You can calculate the BMI using the following formulae

Imperial
Example:A person who is 65 inches (165 cm) tall weighing150 lbs.
1)Multiply weight by 704
    150 x 704 = 105,600
2)Multiply height by itself
    65 x 65 = 4,225
3)Divide the answer in step 1 by the answer
    in step 2 to get BMI
    105,600 divided by 4,225 = 24.99 (BMI = 25 rounded)
Metric
1)Multiply weight by 10,000
    68 x 10,000 = 680,000
2)Multiply height by itself
    165 x 165 = 27,225
3)Divide the answer 1 by answer 2
    680,000 divided by 27,225 = 24.98 (BMI = 25 rounded)