Should ideal weight

What are other ways to assess excess body fatness? How is BMI calculated? How is BMI interpreted for adults? Is BMI interpreted the same way for children and teens as it is for adults? How good is BMI as an indicator of body fatness? If an athlete or other person with a lot of muscle has a BMI over 25, is that person still considered to be overweight?

What are the health consequences of obesity for adults? To receive email updates about this topic, enter your email address. Email Address. What's this? Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Related Topics. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.

CDC is not responsible for Section compliance accessibility on other federal or private website. The formulas differ in the values used based on the research of the scientists involved in their development, and their findings. The Devine formula is the most widely used formula for the measurement of IBW. Similar to the Hamwi Formula, it was originally intended as a basis for medicinal dosages based on weight and height. Over time, the formula became a universal determinant of IBW.

Based on the BMI range, it is possible to find out a healthy weight for any given height. It is widely used in the medical field as a quick indicator of possible health complications. Generally, the higher the BMI, the higher the chance a person will suffer from health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and many more.

It is an indicator used by doctors to advise their patients of potential health problems, especially if there is a noticeable progressive increase in their BMI, and is currently the official metric for classifying individuals according to different obesity levels. All the formulas above are for adults age 18 or older. There are limitations to all the formulas and methods. Because the formulas are designed to be as applicable to as wide a range of people as possible, they cannot be highly accurate for every single individual.

The formulas factor only height and gender, and there are no considerations for physical handicaps, people on the extreme ends of the spectrum, activity levels, or muscle mass to body fat ratios, otherwise known as body composition. Our Ideal Weight Calculator is meant to be used as a general guideline based on popular formulas, and its results are not intended as strict values that a person must achieve to be considered an "ideal weight.

US units metric units other units. Age ages 2 - 80 Gender male female Height feet inches Height cm. Fitness and Health Calculators.

Back to Live Well. To find out if you're a healthy weight for your height, work out your body mass index BMI. A BMI between The BMI calculator can also be used to check if your child is a healthy weight. Weight gain occurs when you regularly eat and drink more calories than you burn through normal bodily functions and physical activity.

Read about the hidden causes of weight gain. To lose weight, you should try to cut down on how much you eat and drink and be more active. Find out more about calories and your weight. Take action now and start losing weight.