BMI Table

According to the body mass index, people are categorized based on normal weight, overweight, or obese. The most common table used in studies is the one from the World Health Organization, which is also used by the German Organization for Nutrition.

BMI Table WHO:

Meaning	BMI
Normal weight	19–24,9
Overweight	25–29,9
Obesity level I	30–34,9
Obesity level II	35–39,9
Obesity level III	≥ 40

Neither age nor gender is considered here. The BMI Formula requires only height weight. Therefore there are other categories. For example, the American National Research Council published a table of normal body mass index based on age in 1989.

BMI Table NCR:

Age	BMI
19–24	19–24
25–34	20–25
35–44	21–26
45–54	22–27
55–64	23–28
Ab 65	24–29

In practice, the WHO table is used even if it is now known that a slightly higher BMI with increasing age can have quite positive effects on life expectancy and health.

The meaning of the value for children is separately explained in BMI for Children.

Athletes have a real problem with the body mass index, Especially strength athletes carry a high weight due to muscle mass. Because of this, a fit body builder or boxer can be marked overweight. BMI simply doesn’t differentiate between muscle and fat. But this is not the only problem with using the body mass index as a criterion for evaluating being overweight. Therefore we have collected some alternatives for you.