The Body Mass Index - BMI for short - indicates the ratio of body weight to height. It is an indication of normal weight or whether a person is underweight or overweight. This definition is based on the WHO standard values. It is calculated using the BMI formula: BMI = weight (kg) / height² (m).
Calculator
All information is without guarantee
Use calculator:
- Choose whether you want to calculate the Body Mass Index for women, men, children or babies.
- Enter your weight in kilograms.
- Enter your height in centimeters.
- Enter your age in years.
- Click on
BMI table for women
| age | Normal weight |
|---|---|
| 19 to 24 years | 19 to 24 |
| 25 to 34 years | 20 to 25 |
| 35 to 44 years | 21 to 26 |
| 45 to 54 years | 22 to 27 |
| 55 to 64 years | 23 to 28 |
| Older than 64 years | 24 to 29 |
BMI table for men
| age | Normal weight |
|---|---|
| 19 to 24 years | 19 to 24 |
| 25 to 34 years | 20 to 25 |
| 35 to 44 years | 21 to 26 |
| 45 to 54 years | 22 to 27 |
| 55 to 64 years | 23 to 28 |
| Older than 64 years | 24 to 29 |
BMI table for children
| Children's age | Normal weight (girls) | Normal weight (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 years | 13 to 19 | 14 to 19 |
| 9 years | 14 to 20 | 14 to 19.5 |
| 10 years | 14 to 20.5 | 14.5 to 21.5 |
| 11 years | 14.5 to 20.5 | 14.5 to 21 |
| 12 years | 15.5 to 21.5 | 15 to 22 |
| 13 years | 16 to 22 | 16 to 21.5 |
| 14 years | 17 to 23 | 16.5 to 22.5 |
| 15 years | 17.5 to 23 | 18 to 23 |
| 16 years | 18 to 23 | 18.5 to 23.5 |
| 17 years | 18 to 23.5 | 18.5 to 24 |
| 18 years | 18.5 to 23.5 | 18.5 to 24 |
BMI table for babies
| Baby age | BMI (normal weight) |
|---|---|
| 12 months | 15.6 to 18.2 |
| 13 months | 15.5 to 18.0 |
| 14 months | 15.4 to 17.9 |
| 15 months | 15.3 to 17.8 |
| 16 months | 15.2 to 17.7 |
| 17 months | 15.1 to 17.5 |
| 18 months | 15.0 to 17.4 |
| 19 months | 14.9 to 17.3 |
| 20 months | 14.9 to 17.3 |
| 21 months | 14.8 to 17.2 |
| 22 months | 14.7 to 17.1 |
| 23 months | 14.7 to 17.0 |
| 24 months | 14.6 to 17.0 |
BMI classification
The World Health Organization (WHO) has drawn up a classification for the Body Mass Index or ideal weight.
The value of the index is thus divided into six categories:
- under 18.5: underweight
- 18.5 to 24.9: normal weight
- 25 to 29.9: overweight
- 30 to 34.9: Obesity grade I (obesity)
- 35 to 39.9: Obesity grade II
- 40 and over: obesity grade III
The tables for normal weight per gender and age can be found in the respective calculator.
The body mass index, also known as body mass index or BMI, clarifies whether your body weight corresponds to your height. From this it can be deduced whether the body weight should be reduced for health reasons.
BMI calculation
The BMI is calculated as follows: Body weight in kilograms divided by height squared.
This results in the following guide values:
- 18.5 - 24.9 Normal weight
- 25 - 29.9 Overweight
- over 30 obesity
The World Health Organization (WHO) has divided the BMI values into different classes, resulting in different tables. Age and gender also play a role here. Both genetically and hormonally, men have a larger amount of muscle than women, so the sexes are also considered separately in the table. These tables with guide values are for adults, as the body composition changes for children due to growth, they are not listed, or the values are determined by the pediatrician in a different way.
For example, the BMI value does not take into account the distribution of body fat or muscle mass. An athlete with a lot of muscle mass, for example, can have the same BMI as people with a lack of exercise and little muscle and a lot of body fat. So the BMI value of a bodybuilder can be the same as that of an obese person with a lack of exercise.
To summarize: The Body Mass Index is intended to monitor the normal weight of an adult in order to prevent obesity and consequently dangerous medical conditions or complications, including
Disease patterns associated with obesity
The following conditions can arise in connection with obesity:
Back pain
Obesity can lead to back pain due to a lot of weight on the back and joints, which can cause increased wear and tear and restricted movement.
Cardiovascular diseases
An unbalanced and unhealthy diet consisting of saturated fats and high-calorie foods plays a particularly important role in cardiovascular diseases. As a result, the blood vessels become calcified and the risk of a heart attack increases.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is also associated with obesity. The body can no longer produce insulin itself and it must therefore be supplied artificially. People with type 2 diabetes have to calculate the exact contents and quantities of all meals in order to supply the sick body with the right amount of insulin. This is very demanding and complicated.
Stroke
The risk of a stroke can increase with obesity. The risk increases due to circulatory disorders, similar to heart attacks.
Further information can be found online here: https://www.gesundheit.gv.at/leben/ernaehrung/adipositas/uebergewicht-ursachen
Conclusion
Health problems can be prevented and/or reduced with a healthy diet, plenty of exercise such as fitness training or walks and calculations or sporadic measurements of BMI values either on special scales or with the help of a trainer in a fitness center.