BMI ranges used in the UK
NHS health information and NICE guidance use the standard adult ranges: below 18.5 underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 healthy weight, 25 to 29.9 overweight, 30 to 39.9 obese and 40 or above severely obese. This page is an independent calculator and is not affiliated with the NHS, but it uses the same published ranges so you can compare your result with what your GP or practice nurse would use.
Lower cut-offs for some ethnic groups
People of South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean family background have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and other conditions at a lower BMI. NICE therefore recommends treating a BMI of 23 to 27.4 as overweight and 27.5 or above as obesity for these groups. Tick the background box in the calculator to apply these cut-offs.
BMI in stones and pounds
Choose UK (ft, in, st) to enter height in feet and inches and weight in stones and pounds. One stone is 14 pounds, or 6.35 kg. The calculator converts to kilograms and metres, applies the BMI formula and shows your healthy weight range back in stones and pounds.
| Height | Healthy weight (BMI 18.5–24.9) | BMI 30 (obesity) from |
|---|---|---|
| 4 ft 10 in | 6 st 5 lb – 8 st 7 lb | 10 st 4 lb |
| 5 ft 0 in | 6 st 11 lb – 9 st 1 lb | 11 st 0 lb |
| 5 ft 2 in | 7 st 3 lb – 9 st 10 lb | 11 st 10 lb |
| 5 ft 4 in | 7 st 10 lb – 10 st 5 lb | 12 st 7 lb |
| 5 ft 6 in | 8 st 3 lb – 11 st 0 lb | 13 st 4 lb |
| 5 ft 8 in | 8 st 10 lb – 11 st 10 lb | 14 st 1 lb |
| 5 ft 10 in | 9 st 3 lb – 12 st 6 lb | 14 st 13 lb |
| 6 ft 0 in | 9 st 10 lb – 13 st 2 lb | 15 st 11 lb |
| 6 ft 2 in | 10 st 4 lb – 13 st 12 lb | 16 st 10 lb |
| 6 ft 4 in | 10 st 12 lb – 14 st 9 lb | 17 st 8 lb |
Children in the UK
For under-18s, UK services use BMI centile charts rather than adult ranges. Our Child BMI Calculator gives a BMI-for-age percentile based on the CDC reference, which is close to — but not identical with — the UK90 charts used in the NHS National Child Measurement Programme.
What to do with your result
If your BMI is in the overweight or obese range, or below 18.5, your GP practice can check your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol and talk through support options. Your waist measurement is also useful: keeping it to less than half your height is the NICE-recommended target.