Body mass index (BMI) is a simple screening number worked out from your height and weight: your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. It places adults in broad weight categories, but it does not measure body fat directly or diagnose any condition.
An ideal or goal weight is a weight range that fits a healthy BMI for your height. The calculator above gives you a starting point, and a physician can help you set a realistic target that also takes your age, health and body composition into account. If you would like support reaching it, see how physician-supervised weight loss works at FitFocus MD in Frisco, TX.
One kilogram equals about 2.2046 pounds, and one pound equals about 0.4536 kilograms. To convert kilograms to pounds, multiply by 2.2046. To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.2046. For example, 13.27 kg is about 29.3 lbs, 18.5 kg is about 40.8 lbs and 182.6 lbs is about 82.8 kg.
| Kilograms (kg) | Pounds (lbs) |
|---|---|
| 50 kg | 110.2 lbs |
| 60 kg | 132.3 lbs |
| 70 kg | 154.3 lbs |
| 80 kg | 176.4 lbs |
| 90 kg | 198.4 lbs |
| 100 kg | 220.5 lbs |
For adults aged 20 and older, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses these BMI categories:
| BMI | Category |
|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 to less than 25 | Healthy weight |
| 25 to less than 30 | Overweight |
| 30 or greater | Obesity |
Source: CDC adult BMI categories. Children and teens are assessed with age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles instead.
No. For adults, BMI is calculated the same way for women and men, and the same CDC categories apply. At the same BMI, women tend to have more body fat than men, so BMI is best read alongside other measures such as waist size and your overall health.
BMI is a useful screening tool, but it is not a diagnosis. It cannot tell muscle from fat, so very muscular people can have a high BMI without excess body fat, and the link between BMI and body fat can differ with age, sex and ethnicity. A healthcare provider can look at BMI together with your medical history and other measurements before recommending any treatment.
