Where BMI falls short
BMI was designed to describe populations, not to diagnose individuals. It cannot tell muscle from fat, does not show whether fat sits around the organs or under the skin, and was built mainly on data from adults of European descent. It can underestimate risk for people of Asian background and for older adults who have lost muscle, and overestimate it for athletes. Doctors therefore combine BMI with waist size, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol before drawing conclusions.
What to do with your result
If you are in the healthy range, keep up regular activity and recheck now and then. If you are above it, even a 5% weight loss can improve blood pressure and blood sugar. If you are below 18.5, ask your doctor to look for causes such as diet, thyroid problems or other illness. In every case, a GP or nurse can put your BMI in context with your waist, family history and blood tests.
Healthy weight in pounds by height
The weight range in pounds that gives a BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 at each height, and the weight at which BMI reaches 30:
| Height | Healthy weight (BMI 18.5–24.9) | BMI 30 (obesity) from |
|---|---|---|
| 4 ft 10 in | 89 lb – 119 lb | 144 lb |
| 5 ft 0 in | 95 lb – 127 lb | 154 lb |
| 5 ft 2 in | 101 lb – 136 lb | 164 lb |
| 5 ft 4 in | 108 lb – 145 lb | 175 lb |
| 5 ft 6 in | 115 lb – 154 lb | 186 lb |
| 5 ft 8 in | 122 lb – 164 lb | 197 lb |
| 5 ft 10 in | 129 lb – 174 lb | 209 lb |
| 6 ft 0 in | 136 lb – 184 lb | 221 lb |
| 6 ft 2 in | 144 lb – 194 lb | 234 lb |
| 6 ft 4 in | 152 lb – 205 lb | 246 lb |