BMI chart
A BMI chart is just the BMI number mapped to either (a) a fixed band of weight status for adults or (b) a percentile against same-age, same-sex peers for children. The two tables look different because they answer different questions. This page shows both, explains where the cut-offs come from, and adds the Asian-cohort overlay many clinicians use.
Adult BMI chart (WHO)
The most commonly cited adult chart is the WHO 1995/2000 classification, derived from observational data on the relationship between BMI and morbidity/mortality in European-descended cohorts [1]:
| BMI (kg/m²) | WHO class | Health risk band |
|---|---|---|
| < 16.0 | Severe underweight | High (other causes) |
| 16.0 – 16.9 | Moderate underweight | High |
| 17.0 – 18.4 | Mild underweight | Elevated |
| 18.5 – 24.9 | Normal weight | Reference |
| 25.0 – 27.4 | Overweight (Asian: at-risk) | Mildly elevated |
| 27.5 – 29.9 | Overweight (Asian: obese I) | Elevated |
| 30.0 – 32.4 | Obese class I (Asian: obese II) | Moderate |
| 32.5 – 34.9 | Obese class I | Moderate |
| 35.0 – 37.4 | Obese class II | High |
| 37.5 – 39.9 | Obese class II | High |
| ≥ 40.0 | Obese class III ("severe" or "morbid") | Very high |
The "health risk band" column is approximate and based on the NHLBI's 2013 systematic review, which correlated BMI bands with all-cause mortality in adults [2]. The Asian-cohort column reflects the WHO 2004 Expert Consultation recommendations [3], summarised separately below.
Adult height-to-weight cross-reference
A common use of the adult chart is the inverse: given a height, what weight range corresponds to a healthy BMI? The table below rounds heights to 5 cm increments and weights to the nearest kg.
| Height (cm) | Height (ft+in) | BMI 18.5 (kg / lb) | BMI 25 (kg / lb) | BMI 30 (kg / lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | 4′11″ | 41.6 / 91.7 | 56.3 / 124.0 | 67.5 / 148.8 |
| 155 | 5′1″ | 44.4 / 97.9 | 60.0 / 132.3 | 72.1 / 158.9 |
| 160 | 5′3″ | 47.4 / 104.5 | 64.0 / 141.1 | 76.8 / 169.3 |
| 165 | 5′5″ | 50.4 / 111.1 | 68.1 / 150.1 | 81.7 / 180.1 |
| 170 | 5′7″ | 53.5 / 117.9 | 72.3 / 159.4 | 86.7 / 191.1 |
| 175 | 5′9″ | 56.7 / 125.0 | 76.6 / 168.9 | 91.9 / 202.6 |
| 180 | 5′11″ | 59.9 / 132.1 | 81.0 / 178.6 | 97.2 / 214.3 |
| 185 | 6′1″ | 63.3 / 139.6 | 85.6 / 188.7 | 102.7 / 226.4 |
| 190 | 6′3″ | 66.8 / 147.3 | 90.3 / 199.0 | 108.3 / 238.8 |
Children's BMI chart (CDC percentiles)
For ages 2 to 19, BMI is interpreted as a percentile against same-age, same-sex peers. The 2000 CDC growth-chart reference is the standard in the United States; the WHO uses a similar approach for children under 5 in its child-growth standards [4]. The bands are:
| Percentile | CDC weight-status category |
|---|---|
| < 5th | Underweight |
| 5th – < 85th | Healthy weight |
| 85th – < 95th | Overweight |
| ≥ 95th | Obesity |
| ≥ 120% × 95th | Severe obesity (class 2) |
Worked example: a 10-year-old boy with a BMI of 22.96 falls at the 96th percentile — i.e. above the 95th percentile line and in the "Obesity" band. Our child BMI calculator performs this exact calculation in your browser, using the CDC 2022 extended LMS data bundled in this repository.
Asian-cohort overlay
The 2004 WHO Expert Consultation noted that for many Asian populations, cardiometabolic risk begins to climb at lower BMIs than for European-descended cohorts. The chart below layers the two sets of cut-offs side-by-side [3]:
| Standard (WHO 2000) | Asian (WHO 2004 trigger) |
|---|---|
| Normal: 18.5 – 24.9 | Normal: 18.5 – 22.9 |
| Overweight: 25 – 29.9 | At-risk: 23 – 27.4 |
| Obese: ≥ 30 | Obese: ≥ 27.5 |
Most Asian clinical guidelines (China, India, Japan, Singapore) use the lower triggers. Our calculator exposes the same cut-offs through a "Asian cut-offs" toggle on the form.
FAQ
What is the "ideal" BMI?
"Ideal" varies by age, sex, ethnicity, and individual circumstance. The WHO 18.5–24.9 band is the population reference, but a 2013 meta-analysis of 2.88 million adults found all-cause mortality was lowest at BMI 20–25 in European-descended cohorts and 22.5–27.5 in some other populations [5].
Does the chart differ for men and women?
The cut-offs are identical, but body-fat percentage at the same BMI is typically 8–10 percentage points higher in women than men. The chart is a screen; sex-specific body composition belongs in a follow-up.
Should I use a chart for kids?
A printed chart is fine for a quick lookup, but the percentile is age- and sex-specific, so a chart that shows only one curve is misleading. The chart page on this site has tabbed tables for boys and girls across all ages 2–20.
References
- World Health Organization. Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. WHO Technical Report Series 894. Geneva: WHO; 2000. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-technical-report-series-894
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH. Managing Overweight and Obesity in Adults: Systematic Evidence Review. NIH Publication 13-4094, 2013. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/managing-overweight-and-obesity-in-adults
- WHO Expert Consultation. Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies. Lancet. 2004;363(9403):157–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)15268-3
-
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National
Center for Health Statistics. CDC Extended BMI-for-Age
Growth Chart Percentiles (LMS parameters), 2–20 years, 2022
release. Bundled as
Official docs/bmi-age-2022.csv. https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/extended-bmi.htm - The Global BMI Mortality Collaboration. Body-mass index and all-cause mortality: individual-participant-data meta-analysis of 239 prospective studies in four continents. Lancet. 2016;388(10046):776–786. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30175-1
Last updated: 6 June 2026. No content on this page constitutes medical advice.
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Try the calculator, read what each category means, or see how BMI compares to body-fat percentage.