Healthy Weight

There are many definitions of healthy weight. The National Institutes of Health define healthy weight by BMI, which stands for body mass index. A healthy weight is considered to be one that is between 19 and 25. If the BMI is 25 - 29, an adult is considered overweight. If the BMI is 30 or greater, the person is considered to be obese.

Health risks rise with BMI. Health risks include heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, many types of cancer, gall bladder disease, sleep apnea, gout, osteoarthritis, decreased mobility, degenerative joint disease of hips and knees, fatty liver disease, and reduced fertility.

You can determine your BMI from the following table. Find your height in inches by looking in column 1. Then go across until you find your approximate weight. Then read up the chart to find your BMI in the first row. For BMI information for children, see below.

					BMI (Body Mass Index)
Height (inches)	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
58	86	91	96	100	105	110	115	120	124	129	134	139	144	148	153	158	163	167	172	177	182	187	191
59	89	94	99	104	109	114	119	124	129	134	139	144	149	153	158	163	168	173	178	183	188	193	198
60	92	97	102	108	113	118	123	128	133	138	143	148	154	159	164	169	174	179	184	189	195	200	205
61	95	101	106	111	116	122	127	132	138	143	148	153	159	164	169	175	180	185	191	196	201	206	212
62	98	104	109	115	120	126	131	137	142	148	153	159	164	169	175	180	186	191	197	202	208	213	219
63	102	107	113	119	124	130	135	141	147	152	158	164	169	175	181	186	192	198	203	209	215	220	226
64	105	111	117	122	128	134	140	146	151	157	163	169	175	181	186	192	198	204	210	216	221	227	233
65	108	114	120	126	132	138	144	150	156	162	168	174	180	186	192	198	204	210	216	222	228	234	240
66	112	118	124	130	136	142	149	155	161	167	173	180	186	192	198	204	211	217	223	229	235	242	248
67	115	121	128	134	140	147	153	160	166	172	179	185	192	198	204	211	217	223	230	236	243	249	255
68	118	125	132	138	145	151	158	164	171	178