Body Mass Index (BMI)
Topic Overview
Yourbody mass index (BMI)and waist sizeaffect your risk oftype 2 diabetes,high blood pressure,high cholesterol, andcoronary artery disease. The following table shows the risk.
Body mass index (BMI) and the risk for diseasesfootnote 1
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Classification
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BMI
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Waist size and relative risk
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Men: less than 40 in. (102 cm)
Women: less than 35 in. (88 cm)
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Men: 40 in. (102 cm) or more
Women: 35 in. (88 cm) or more
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Normal
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18.5-24.9
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-
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Increased risk
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Overweight
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25-29.9
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Increased risk
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High risk
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Obesity I
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30-34.9
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High risk
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Very high risk
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Obesity II
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35-39.9
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Very high risk
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Very high risk
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Obesity III (extreme)
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40 or above
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Extremely high risk
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Extremely high risk
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For Asian people, each risk category may include lower BMIs than those listed in the table.
A BMI under 18.5 is considered unhealthy. There is risk that you are not getting sufficient nutrition (malnutrition). Complications of malnutrition include anemia, nutrient deficiency, heart irregularities, loss of menstrual periods in women (amenorrhea), cavities, and osteoporosis.
References
Citations
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (2000). The Practical Guide: Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults (NIH Publication No. 00-4084). Available online: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/prctgd_c.pdf.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerRhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator
Current as ofOctober 9, 2017
Current as of:
October 9, 2017
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (2000). The Practical Guide: Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults (NIH Publication No. 00-4084). Available online: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/prctgd_c.pdf.
