Determining Body Mass Index for Teens
What is body mass index?
Determining how much your teen should weigh is not a simple matter of looking at an insurance height-weight chart. It includes considering the amount of bone, muscle, and fat in his or her body. The amount of fat is the critical measurement.
A good indicator of how much fat your teen carries is the body mass index (BMI). Although it's not a perfect measure, it gives a fairly accurate assessment of how much of your teen's body is composed of fat.
The formulas below apply to adults only. For children and teens ages 2 to 19 years, the BMI varies by age and sex. An additional step must be done after the BMI has been determined using one of the formulas below. The BMI-for-age percentile is determined by comparing your teen's weight to that of other teens of the same age and sex.
In other words, by plotting your child's BMI value into the CDC's BMI-for-age growth chart , you can determine if your child is underweight, within normal range, overweight, or obese. Or you can easily calculate it from the CDC's online tool .
To calculate an adult's BMI using the English formula
For example, a person who weighs 165 pounds and is 5 feet 4 inches tall has a BMI of 28. 165 lbs x 703=28(64 inches) x (64 inches)
To calculate an adult's BMI using the metric formula
A BMI between 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. Anything over 30 is considered obese. Normal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. BMI cut-offs for people of South Asian descent are different.
BMI can be calculated using pounds and inches. BMI= Weight in Pounds x 703 (Height in Inches) x (Height in Inches)
Multiply your weight in pounds by 703.
Divide that answer by your height in inches.
Divide that answer by your height in inches again.
BMI can be calculated using kilograms and meters. BMI= Weight in Kilograms (Height in Meters) x (Height in Meters)
Your weight in kilograms.
Divided by your height in meters.
Divide that answer by your height in meters again.
For example, a person who weighs 99.79 Kilograms and is 1.905 Meters tall has a BMI of 27.5. 99.79 Kg=27.5(1.905 Meters) x (1.905 Meters)
Your BMI is calculated by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by the square of your height (in meters). In other words the algebraic expression for BMI is kilograms per square meter:
BMI = Kg / (m)2One variable BMI fails to consider is lean body mass. It is possible for a healthy, muscular individual with very low body fat to be classified obese using the BMI formula.
Enter your height (in inches) and weight (in pounds) in the boxes below and then click "Calculate." The following conversion factors are used in the metric to english calculations:
1 inch = 2.54 cm | 100 cm = 1 m | 1 lb = 0.45359237 Kg |
If your BMI is below 20: Under Weight
This indicates a lean BMI, which means you have a low amount of body fat. If you are an athlete, this can be desirable. If you are not an athlete, a lean BMI can indicate that your weight may be too low, which may lower your immunity. If your BMI and body weight are low, you should consider gaining weight through good diet and exercise habits, to increase your muscle mass.
If your BMI is between 20 and 22: Heralthy Weight
This indicates the ideal, healthy amount of body fat, which is associated with living longest, and the lowest incidence of serious illness. Coincidentally, it seems this ratio is what many individuals perceive to be the most aesthetically attractive.
If your BMI is between 22 and 25: Healthy Weight
This is still considered an acceptable range, and is associated with good health.
If your BMI is between 25 and 30: Overweight
You are considered overweight and should finds ways to lower your weight, through diet and exercise. You are at increased risk for a variety of illnesses at your present weight. You should lose weight by changing your diet and exercising more.
If your BMI is over 30: Significantly Overweight
This indicates an unhealthy condition, your excess mass is putting you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, gall bladder disease, circulation problems, and some cancers. You should lose weight by changing your diet and exercising more.
If your BMI is over 40: Dangerously Overweight
A BMI over 40 is dangerously overweight and puts you at severe risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, gall bladder disease, circulation problems, and some cancers. Losing some weight could save your life.
BMI | Height (in) | ||||||||||||||||||
58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | |
Weight (lbs) | 4'10" | 4'11" | 5'0" | 5'1" | 5'2" | 5'3" | 5'4" | 5'5" | 5'6" | 5'7" | 5'8" | 5'9" | 5'10" | 5'11" | 6'0" | 6'1" | 6'2" | 6'3" | 6'4" |
100 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
105 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
110 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
115 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
120 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
125 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
130 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
135 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
140 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
145 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
150 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
155 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
160 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 |
165 | 35 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
170 | 36 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 |
175 | 37 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 |
180 | 38 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
185 | 39 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 |
190 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
195 | 41 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 |
200 | 42 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 |
205 | 43 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
210 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 |
215 | 45 | 44 | 42 | 41 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 |
220 | 46 | 45 | 43 | 42 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
225 | 47 | 46 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
230 | 48 | 47 | 45 | 44 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 |
235 | 49 | 48 | 46 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 |
240 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 |
245 | 51 | 50 | 48 | 46 | 45 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 |
250 | 52 | 51 | 49 | 47 | 46 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 |
255 | 53 | 52 | 50 | 48 | 47 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 |
260 | 54 | 53 | 51 | 49 | 48 | 46 | 45 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 32 |
265 | 56 | 54 | 52 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 46 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 |
270 | 57 | 55 | 53 | 51 | 49 | 48 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 |
275 | 58 | 56 | 54 | 52 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 46 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 34 |
280 | 59 | 57 | 55 | 53 | 51 | 50 | 48 | 47 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 |
285 | 60 | 58 | 56 | 54 | 52 | 51 | 49 | 48 | 46 | 45 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 |
290 | 61 | 59 | 57 | 55 | 53 | 51 | 50 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 |
295 | 62 | 60 | 58 | 56 | 54 | 52 | 51 | 49 | 48 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 |
300 | 63 | 61 | 59 | 57 | 55 | 53 | 52 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 46 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 |
|