Ideal Weight (Cont.)

Can Someone With a High BMI Still Be Considered Healthy?

The BMI score is valid for both men and women, but it does have some limitations. When BMI is used to calculate body fat:
 
  • It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build (see BMI for Athletes)
  • It may underestimate body fat in older people and others who have lost muscle mass.
     
Therefore, it is possible for a person to be completely healthy, but have an "unhealthy BMI." This is why healthcare providers consider other factors (including direct body fat measurements) when assessing the health risk for certain medical conditions.
 

Other Factors Besides Weight

BMI is just one way to assess a person's ideal weight for health. To determine if excess weight is a health risk, a healthcare provider will perform further assessments. According to the recent guidelines, assessment of weight involves using three key measures:
 
  • BMI
  • Waist circumference
  • Risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity.
     
BMI
 
Waist Circumference
To determine your waist circumference, place a measuring tape snugly around your waist. It is a good indicator of your abdominal fat, which is another way of determining your chance for developing risk factors for heart disease and other serious health conditions. This risk increases when the waist measurement is over 40 inches in men and over 35 inches in women.
 
The following table provides you with an idea of whether your BMI combined with your waist circumference increases your risk for developing obesity-related diseases or conditions.
 
 
Classification of Overweight and Obesity by BMI, Waist Circumference,
and Associated Disease Risks
 
 
 
Disease Risk* Relative to Normal Weight and Waist Circumference
 
BMI
(kg/m2)
Obesity
Class
Men 102 cm (40 in) or less
Women 88 cm (35 in) or less
Men > 102 cm (40 in)
Women > 88 cm (35 in)
Underweight
< 18.5
 
-
-
Normal
18.5 - 24.9
 
-
-
Overweight
25.0 - 29.9
 
Increased
High
Obesity
30.0 - 34.9
I
High
Very High
 
35.0 - 39.9
II
Very High
Very High
Extreme Obesity
40.0 +
III
Extremely High
Extremely High
 
(Ideal Weight Continued: Page 3)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD