Understanding your BMI result:
*Underweight
Being underweight could be a sign you're not eating enough or you may be ill. If you're underweight, a GP can help.
*Healthy weight
Keep up the good work! For tips on maintaining a healthy weight, check out the food and diet and fitness sections.
*Overweight
The best way to lose weight if you're overweight is through a combination of diet and exercise.
The BMI calculator will give you a personal calorie allowance to help you achieve a healthy weight safely.
*Obese
The best way to lose weight if you're obese is through a combination of diet and exercise, and, in some cases, medicines. See a GP for help and advice.
Black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups
Black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups have a higher risk of developing some long-term (chronic) conditions, such as type 2 diabetes.
These adults with a BMI of:
23 or more are at increased risk
27.5 or more are at high risk
Why waist size also matters
Measuring your waist is a good way to check you're not carrying too much fat around your stomach, which can raise your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke.
You can have a healthy BMI and still have excess tummy fat, meaning you're still at risk of developing these conditions.
To measure your waist:
Find the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips.
Wrap a tape measure around your waist midway between these points.
Breathe out naturally before taking the measurement.
Regardless of your height or BMI, you should try to lose weight if your waist is:
94cm (37ins) or more for men
80cm (31.5ins) or more for women
You're at very high risk and should contact a GP if your waist is:
102cm (40ins) or more for men
88cm (34ins) or more for women
Children's BMI
For children and young people aged 2 to 18, the BMI calculator takes into account age and gender as well as height and weight.
Overweight children are thought to be at increased risk of a variety of health conditions, and they're also more likely to be overweight as adults.
The BMI calculator works out if a child or young person is:
underweight – on the 2nd centile or below
healthy weight – between the 2nd and 91st centiles
overweight – 91st centile or above
very overweight – 98th centile or above
A child's BMI is expressed as a "centile" to show how their BMI compares with children who took part in national surveys.
For example, a girl on the 75th centile is heavier than 75 out of 100 other girls her age.
Measuring waist size is not routinely recommended for children because it does not take their height into account.
Get tips on how to encourage your child to be more active and eat well
Limitations of the BMI
Your BMI can tell you if you're carrying too much weight, but it cannot tell if you're carrying too much fat.
The BMI cannot tell the difference between excess fat, muscle or bone.
The adult BMI does not take into account age, gender or muscle mass.
This means:
very muscular adults and athletes may be classed "overweight" or "obese" even though their body fat is low
adults who lose muscle as they get older may fall into the "healthy weight" range even though they may be carrying excess fat
Pregnancy will also affect a woman's BMI result. Your BMI will go up as your weight increases. You should use your pre-pregnancy weight when calculating your BMI.
Apart from these limitations, the BMI is a relatively straightforward and convenient way of assessing someone's weight.
Eating disorders
Next steps
You can use your BMI result as a starting point for further discussion with a GP about your weight and general health.
A BMI above the healthy weight range or too much fat around your waist can increase your risk of serious health problems like:
heart disease
type 2 diabetes
stroke
certain types of cancer
