Body fat and BMI in women
At the same BMI, women usually carry about 10 percentage points more body fat than men — a healthy level of essential fat that supports hormones and reproduction. That is why the categories are not adjusted for sex: the risk linked with a given BMI is broadly similar. But it means a woman’s body-fat percentage at BMI 23 can be close to 30%, which is normal for women and would be high for men.
Waist size for women
Measure halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, after breathing out. A waist above 80 cm (31.5 in) is linked with higher risk in women, and above 88 cm (35 in) with substantially higher risk. A rule that adjusts for height is to keep your waist under half your height — 82 cm or less if you are 165 cm tall.
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 |