Does BMI chart change with age?
BMI changes substantially with age. After about 1 year of age, BMI-for-age begins to decline and it continues falling during the preschool years until it reaches a minimum around 4 to 6 years of age. After 4 to 6 years of age, BMI-for-age begins a gradual increase through adolescence and most of adulthood.
BMI is a reasonable indicator of body fat for both adults and children. Because BMI does not measure body fat directly, it should not be used as a diagnostic tool. Instead, BMI should be used as a measure to track weight status in populations and as a screening tool to identify potential weight problems in individuals.
Birth Date must be at least 2 years before Date of Measurement. If the child is under 2 years old, you cannot calculate BMI. Consult a healthcare provider for assessment. Based on the Birth Date and Date of Measurement, the calculated age is 20 years or older.
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Information.
BMI | CATEGORY |
---|---|
25.0 to 29.9 | Overweight |
30.0 to 39.9 | Obese |
Over 40 | Extreme or high risk obesity |
The overall distribution of BMI categories did not significantly change over time (p-value 0.95), so the majority of this study population was obese at every time point (52.2% at baseline, 53.5% at 3 months, and 52.9% at 6 months).
BMI-for-age relates to health risks. BMI-for-age correlates with clinical risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure (Reilly et al.
Body Mass Index is a simple calculation using a person's height and weight. The formula is BMI = kg/m2 where kg is a person's weight in kilograms and m2 is their height in metres squared. A BMI of 25.0 or more is overweight, while the healthy range is 18.5 to 24.9. BMI applies to most adults 18-65 years.
Underweight: BMI is below the 5th percentile age, gender, and height. Healthy weight: BMI is equal to or greater than the 5th percentile and less than the 85th percentile for age, gender, and height. Overweight: BMI is at or above the 85th percentile but less than the 95th percentile for age, gender, and height.
Age Range | 25th Percentile BMI | Average BMI |
---|---|---|
18-24 | 21.9 | 27.1 |
25-29 | 22.5 | 27.9 |
30-34 | 24.4 | 29.6 |
35-39 | 24.7 | 30.2 |
Doctors recommend most adults keep their BMI between 18 and 24.9. Adults with a BMI over 25 are considered obese. On the other hand, older adults do better if they have a BMI between 25 and 27. Research shows that adults over 65 who are underweight experience more health issues and shorter life expectancy.
Does BMI depend on age gender?
One note: While BMI is calculated the same way for children and teens, its interpretation and how it relates to weight status is dependent on age and sex. BMI calculations are not adjusted for gender (except when they're used for children and teens), so BMI charts are the same for adult men and women.
Although BMI can be used on most adults, it does have some limitations: It may overestimate body fat in athletes and people who have a muscular build; and. It may underestimate body fat in older persons and people who do not have a lot of muscle tissue.

Calculating BMI, or body mass index, is another way to help determine ideal body weights in women over age 60. Desirable, healthy BMIs are 18.5 to 24.9, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
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What's the Average Weight for Women?
Age group (years) | Percent considered overweight or obese | Percent considered obese |
---|---|---|
45-54 | 69.5 | 42.9 |
55-64 | 74.5 | 48.2 |
65-74 | 75.6 | 43.5 |
75 and up | 67.4 | 32.7 |
Weight is associated with a number of demographic and socioeconomic factors. Research has shown that BMI increases with age (Ogden et al., 2006; Sakamoto, 2006).
In 1998, the U.S. National Institutes of Health brought U.S. definitions in line with World Health Organization guidelines, lowering the normal/overweight cut-off from a BMI of 27.8 (men) and 27.3 (women) to a BMI of 25.
BMI (body mass index), which is based on the height and weight of a person, is an inaccurate measure of body fat content and does not take into account muscle mass, bone density, overall body composition, and racial and sex differences, say researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
BMI first increases from birth and reaches a maximum at the age of 9 months (adiposity peak (AP)) and decreases thereafter to reach a nadir at the age of 4-6 years (Silverwood et al., 2009; Koyama et al., 2014;Péneau et al., 2016). A later timing and a higher BMI at AP have been associated with childhood obesity. ...
Data suggest that optimum body mass index tended to be higher for older adults compared with the young and middle-aged population, and interestingly, being heavier than recommended by the current guidelines resulted in the lowest mortality rates.
A BMI of less than 18.5 means a person is underweight. A BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9 is ideal. A BMI of between 25 and 29.9 is overweight. A BMI over 30 indicates obesity.
What is a good BMI reading for a woman?
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Adult BMI Calculator.
BMI | Weight Status |
---|---|
18.5—24.9 | Healthy Weight |
25.0—29.9 | Overweight |
30.0 and Above | Obesity |
Doctors consider a moderate BMI for women to be 18.5–24.9. A BMI of 30 or above may indicate obesity.
However, there have been no reports concerning the mortality and morbidity rates of patients with BMI values of >80 (super-super-super obese); this degree of obesity might lead to severe disturbance of the microcirculation disturbance in the fatty tissue, which may be complicated by infection (12,13).
Normal weight at 118 to 159 pounds (BMI = 18.5-24.9) Overweight at 160 to 191 pounds (BMI = 25-29.9)
BMI doesn't account for body composition, which means it misses the difference between muscle mass and fat. Because muscles are more dense and heavier than fat, bodybuilders and other professional athletes like football players are often considered obese or overweight based on their BMI alone.
Height | Weight | |
---|---|---|
5' 5" | 114 to 149 lbs. | 150 to 179 lbs. |
5' 6" | 118 to 154 lbs. | 155 to 185 lbs. |
5' 7" | 121 to 158 lbs. | 159 to 190 lbs. |
5' 8" | 125 to 163 lbs. | 164 to 196 lbs. |
Calculating BMI, or body mass index, is another way to help determine ideal body weights in women over age 60. Desirable, healthy BMIs are 18.5 to 24.9, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Though it has been used for decades as the go-to measurement for health based on body size, it has been widely criticized for its oversimplification of what being healthy really means. In fact, many claim BMI is outdated and inaccurate and shouldn't be used in medical and fitness settings.
Height | Normal weight BMI 19–24 | Overweight BMI 25–29 |
---|---|---|
5 ft 2 in (62 in) | 104–131 lb | 136–158 lb |
5 ft 3 in (63 in) | 107–135 lb | 141–163 lb |
5 ft 4 in (64 in) | 110–140 lb | 145–169 lb |
5 ft 5 in (65 in) | 114–144 lb | 150–174 lb |
Normal weight at 118 to 159 pounds (BMI = 18.5-24.9) Overweight at 160 to 191 pounds (BMI = 25-29.9) Obese at 192 pounds or more (BMI = 30+)
What is the most attractive BMI for a woman?
(28) found that a BMI of 20 was considered the most attractive, while Swami et al. (29), and MacNeill and Best (30), found that an underweight body was most frequently selected.