BMI for men
Adult men use the same BMI formula and categories as women: a BMI under 18.5 is underweight, 18.5–24.9 healthy weight, 25–29.9 overweight and 30 or more obesity. Men tend to carry more muscle and less fat than women at the same BMI, and they are more likely to store extra fat around the abdomen, which is the pattern most closely linked with heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Muscle and the male BMI calculator
Because BMI only uses height and weight, it cannot tell muscle from fat. Rugby players, bodybuilders and many manual workers have a BMI in the overweight range while having little excess fat. If you train regularly and your BMI reads 25–29, look at your waist measurement and, if you want more detail, a body-fat measurement from a clinic. If your BMI is 30 or more, it is very unlikely that muscle alone explains it.
Healthy weight for men by height
The table shows the weight that gives a BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 at common heights in metric units, together with the weight at which BMI reaches 30:
| Height | BMI 18.5 | BMI 24.9 | BMI 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 41.6 kg | 56.0 kg | 67.5 kg |
| 155 cm | 44.4 kg | 59.8 kg | 72.1 kg |
| 160 cm | 47.4 kg | 63.7 kg | 76.8 kg |
| 165 cm | 50.4 kg | 67.8 kg | 81.7 kg |
| 170 cm | 53.5 kg | 72.0 kg | 86.7 kg |
| 175 cm | 56.7 kg | 76.3 kg | 91.9 kg |
| 180 cm | 59.9 kg | 80.7 kg | 97.2 kg |
| 185 cm | 63.3 kg | 85.2 kg | 102.7 kg |
| 190 cm | 66.8 kg | 89.9 kg | 108.3 kg |
| 195 cm | 70.3 kg | 94.7 kg | 114.1 kg |
Waist size for men
For men, a waist above 94 cm (37 in) is linked with increased health risk and above 102 cm (40 in) with substantially increased risk. Measure halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, after breathing out. Keeping your waist to less than half your height is a good target at any BMI.
Boys and teenagers
For boys under 20, the calculator compares BMI with other boys of the same age (CDC BMI-for-age percentiles). Enter the age to see the percentile, or use the Child BMI Calculator, which also takes months into account.