Body mass index

2007 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Health and medicine

An example of a body mass index chart

Body mass index (BMI) or Quetelet Index is a statistical measure of the weight of a person scaled according to height. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing "social physics".

Calculation

BMI is defined as the individual's body weight divided by the square of the height, and is almost always expressed in the unit $kg / m 2$ , which is therefore often left out. The BMI value can be calculated with the following formulae.

SI units	Imperial units
$\mathrm{BMI} = \frac{\mathit{weight} \ \mathrm{(kg)}}{\mathit{height}^2 (\mathrm{m})}$	$\mathrm{BMI} = 703 \frac{\mathit{weight} \ (\mathrm{lb})}{\mathit{height}^2 \ (\mathrm{in})}$

When calculating BMI, using SI units is preferred.

Usage

The BMI has become controversial because many people, including physicians, have come to rely on it for medical diagnosis - but that has never been the BMI's purpose. It is meant to be used as a simple means of classifying sedentary (physically inactive) individuals with an average body composition. For these individuals, the current value settings are as follows: a BMI of 18.5 to 25 may indicate optimal weight; a BMI lower than 18.5 suggests the person is underweight while a number above 25 may indicate the person is overweight; a BMI below 15 may indicate the person has an eating disorder; a number above 30 suggests the person is obese (over 40, morbidly obese).

In physiology the term “ weight” is used interchangeably with the “ mass”. For a given body shape and given density, the BMI will be proportional to height e.g. if all body dimensions increase by 50%, the BMI increases by 50%.

Generally, a BMI chart displays calculated BMI as a function of weight (horizontal axis) and height (vertical axis) using “contour lines” for different values of BMI or colors for different BMI categories.

Accuracy

The BMI is meant to broadly categorise populations for purely statistical purposes. As noted, its accuracy in relation to actual levels of body fat is easily distorted by such factors as fitness level, muscle mass, bone structure, gender, and ethnicity. People who are mesomorphic tend to have higher BMI numbers than people who are endomorphic, because they have greater bone mass and greater muscle mass, respectively, than do endomorphic individuals.

Similarly, an ectomorphic individual could conceivably receive an unhealthily low reading, when in fact their body type makes them naturally thin no matter what they eat.

People with short stature tend to have lower BMI. Therefore they should use a lower cut-off value for obesity diagnosis. The same applies to older people, whose reduced muscle mass can hide additional body fat without increasing BMI.

BMI categories

A frequent use of the BMI is to acess how much an individual's body weight departs from what is normal or desirable for a person of his or her height. The weight excess or deficiency may, in part, be accounted for by body fat ( adipose tissue) although other factors such as muscularity also affect BMI (see discussion below and overweight). Human bodies rank along the index from around 15 (near starvation) to over 40 (morbidly obese). This statistical spread is usually described in broad categories: underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese and morbidly obese. The particular BMI values used to demarcate these categories varies based on the authority, but typically a BMI of less than 18.5 is considered underweight and may indicate malnutrition, an eating disorder, or other health problems, while a BMI greater than 25 is considered overweight and above 30 is considered obese. These ranges of BMI values are valid only when applied to adults.

Thresholds

Given the reservations detailed below concerning the limitations of the BMI as a diagnostic tool for individuals, the following are common definitions of BMI categories:

Starvation: less than 15
Underweight: less than 18.5
Ideal: from 18.5 to 25
Overweight: from 25 to 30
Obese: from 30 to 40
Morbidly Obese: greater than 40

The U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 1994 indicates that 59% of American men and 49% of women have BMIs over 25. Extreme obesity — a BMI of 40 or more — was found in 2% of the men and 4% of the women. There are differing opinions on the threshold for being underweight in females, doctors quote anything from 18.5 to 20 as being the lowest weight, the most frequently stated being 19. A BMI nearing 15 is usually used as an indicator for starvation and the health risks involved, with a BMI <17.5 being one of the DSM criteria for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa.

BMI-for-age

BMI is used differently for children. It is calculated the same way as for adults, but then compared to typical values for other children of the same age. Instead of set thresholds for underweight and overweight, then, the BMI percentile allows comparison with children of the same gender and age. A BMI that is less than the 5th percentile is considered underweight and above the 95th percentile is considered overweight. Children with a BMI between the 85th and 95th percentile are considered to be at risk of becoming overweight.

Recent studies in England have indicated that females between the ages 12 and 16 have a higher BMI than males by 1.0 kg/m² on average.

International variations

These recommended distinctions along the liner scale may vary from time to time and country to country, making global, longitudinal surveys problematic. In 1998, the U.S. National Institutes of Health brought U.S. definitions into line with World Health Organization guidelines, lowering the normal/overweight cut-off from BMI 27.8 to BMI 25. This had the effect of redefining approximately 30 million Americans, previously "technically healthy" to "technically overweight". It also recommends lowering the normal/overweight threshold for South East Asian body types to around BMI 23, and expects further revisions to emerge from clinical studies of different body types.

For Asians, the new cut-off BMI index for obesity is 27.5 compared with the traditional WHO figure of 30. An Asian adult with a BMI of 23 or greater is now considered overweight and the ideal normal range is 18.5-22.9. Singapore BMI Cut-offs.

Applications

Statistical device

The Body Mass Index is generally used as a means of correlation between groups related by general mass and can serve as a basic means of estimating adiposity. However, the duality of the Body Mass Index is that, whilst easy-to-use as a general calculation, it is limited in how accurate and pertinent the data obtained from it can be. Generally, the Index is suitable for recognising trends within sedentary or overweight individuals because there is a smaller margin for errors.

This general correlation is particularly useful for consensus data regarding obesity or various other conditions because it can be used to build a semi-accurate representation from which a solution can be stipulated, or the RDA for a group can be calculated. Similarly, this is becoming more and more pertinent to the growth of children, due to the majority of their exercise habits.

The growth of children is usually documented against a BMI-measured growth chart. Obesity trends can be calculated from the difference between the child's BMI and the BMI on the chart. However, this method again falls prey to the obstacle of body composition: many children who are generally born, or grow as an endomorph, would be classed as obese despite body composition. Clinical professionals should take into account the child's body composition and defer to an appropriate technique such as densiometry.

Clinical practice

BMI can be calculated quickly and without expensive equipment. However, BMI categories do not take into account factors such as frame size and muscularity. The categories also fail to account for varying proportions of muscle, fat, bone & cartilage, and water weight.

Despite this, BMI categories are generally regarded as a satisfactory tool for measuring whether sedentary individuals are "underweight," "overweight" or "obese." It has been used by the WHO as the standard for recording obesity statistics since the early 1980s. In the United States, BMI is also used as a measure of underweight, owing to advocacy on behalf of those suffering with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Individuals who are not sedentary - especially athletes - as well as children, the elderly, the infirm, and individuals who are naturally endomorphic or ectomorphic (i.e., people who don't have a medium frame) are ill-fitted to assessment using the BMI. Or to state the problem more accurately, the BMI measurements at which these people may be underweight, overweight or obese are different from sedentary mesomorphs whose ages are between about 20 and 70.

In athletes, the problem is that muscle is denser than fat. Most professional athletes are "overweight" or "obese" according to their BMI - unless the number at which they are considered "overweight" or "obese" is adjusted upward. In children and the elderly, differences in bone density and, thus, in the proportion of bone to total weight can mean the number at which these people are considered underweight should be adjusted downward.

In all cases, methods for actually measuring body fat percentage are always preferable to BMI for measuring healthy body size.

Problems

As a general rule, developed muscle is denser than fat and the BMI does not account for this. Therefore a person with more muscle mass, such as a body-builder, will seem to be overweight. Likewise it could be stipulated that some long-distance or endurance athletes would be classified as ectomorphic (underweight, anorexic or starvation), this type of athlete tends to have low body fat and well developed slow twitch muscle, which does not contribute greatly to muscle mass. These individuals could be widely regarded as the perfect composite for their particular sports. Due to these limitations, body composition for athletes would not be calculated using the body mass index, and instead the body fat would be determined by such techniques as skinfold measurements or underwater weighing. In parallel to this, sportsmen or women from sports such as Rugby, where size and muscle are often of importance, could be listed as overweight, due to a large amount of muscle. At the extreme, many bodybuilders would be classified as morbidly obese, such as Markus Rühl who has a BMI of 46.

Another issue is that competitive athletes often know very accurately what their actual height and weight are, while the general public has tendencies toward over-estimating their height, and under-estimating their weight. The BMI standards, as a public health tool, take this tendency into account. This can lead to athletes having a higher reported BMI than a lay person of the same height and weight.

Mayo Clinic researchers say the BMI doesn't accurately predict risk of cardiovascular death because it doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat. They say a better measure may be your Waist-hip ratio.

In an analysis led by Lopez-Jiminez of 40 studies involving 250,000 people, heart patients with normal BMIs were at higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease than people whose BMIs put them in the "obese" range.

In fact, the ones in the study who had the highest death rates were people who weighed the least; in other words, they had the lowest BMIs.

BMI Chart (height 150 to 174 cm)

Body mass index chart for height from 150 to 174 cm

Starvation: less than 15
Underweight: less than 18.5
Ideal: from 18.5 to 25
Overweight: from 25 to 30
Obese: from 30 to 40
Morbidly Obese: greater than 40

Height  = 150  152  154  156  158  160  162  164  166  168  170  172  174  = centimetres
 140 kg |62.2 60.6 59.0 57.5 56.1 54.7 53.3 52.1 50.8 49.6 48.4 47.3 46.2  | 140 kg
 139 kg |61.8 60.2 58.6 57.1 55.7 54.3 53.0 51.7 50.4 49.2 48.1 47.0 45.9  | 139 kg
 138 kg |61.3 59.7 58.2 56.7 55.3 53.9 52.6 51.3 50.1 48.9 47.8 46.6 45.6  | 138 kg
 137 kg |60.9 59.3 57.8 56.3 54.9 53.5 52.2 50.9 49.7 48.5 47.4 46.3 45.3  | 137 kg
 136 kg |60.4 58.9 57.3 55.9 54.5 53.1 51.8 50.6 49.4 48.2 47.1 46.0 44.9  | 136 kg
 135 kg |60.0 58.4 56.9 55.5 54.1 52.7 51.4 50.2 49.0 47.8 46.7 45.6 44.6  | 135 kg
 134 kg |59.6 58.0 56.5 55.1 53.7 52.3 51.1 49.8 48.6 47.5 46.4 45.3 44.3  | 134 kg
 133 kg |59.1 57.6 56.1 54.7 53.3 52.0 50.7 49.4 48.3 47.1 46.0 45.0 43.9  | 133 kg
 132 kg |58.7 57.1 55.7 54.2 52.9 51.6 50.3 49.1 47.9 46.8 45.7 44.6 43.6  | 132 kg
 131 kg |58.2 56.7 55.2 53.8 52.5 51.2 49.9 48.7 47.5 46.4 45.3 44.3 43.3  | 131 kg
 130 kg |57.8 56.3 54.8 53.4 52.1 50.8 49.5 48.3 47.2 46.1 45.0 43.9 42.9  | 130 kg
 129 kg |57.3 55.8 54.4 53.0 51.7 50.4 49.2 48.0 46.8 45.7 44.6 43.6 42.6  | 129 kg
 128 kg |56.9 55.4 54.0 52.6 51.3 50.0 48.8 47.6 46.5 45.4 44.3 43.3 42.3  | 128 kg
 127 kg |56.4 55.0 53.6 52.2 50.9 49.6 48.4 47.2 46.1 45.0 43.9 42.9 41.9  | 127 kg
 126 kg |56.0 54.5 53.1 51.8 50.5 49.2 48.0 46.8 45.7 44.6 43.6 42.6 41.6  | 126 kg
 125 kg |55.6 54.1 52.7 51.4 50.1 48.8 47.6 46.5 45.4 44.3 43.3 42.3 41.3  | 125 kg
 124 kg |55.1 53.7 52.3 51.0 49.7 48.4 47.2 46.1 45.0 43.9 42.9 41.9 41.0  | 124 kg
 123 kg |54.7 53.2 51.9 50.5 49.3 48.0 46.9 45.7 44.6 43.6 42.6 41.6 40.6  | 123 kg
 122 kg |54.2 52.8 51.4 50.1 48.9 47.7 46.5 45.4 44.3 43.2 42.2 41.2 40.3  | 122 kg
 121 kg |53.8 52.4 51.0 49.7 48.5 47.3 46.1 45.0 43.9 42.9 41.9 40.9 40.0  | 121 kg
 120 kg |53.3 51.9 50.6 49.3 48.1 46.9 45.7 44.6 43.5 42.5 41.5 40.6 39.6  | 120 kg
 119 kg |52.9 51.5 50.2 48.9 47.7 46.5 45.3 44.2 43.2 42.2 41.2 40.2 39.3  | 119 kg
 118 kg |52.4 51.1 49.8 48.5 47.3 46.1 45.0 43.9 42.8 41.8 40.8 39.9 39.0  | 118 kg
 117 kg |52.0 50.6 49.3 48.1 46.9 45.7 44.6 43.5 42.5 41.5 40.5 39.5 38.6  | 117 kg
 116 kg |51.6 50.2 48.9 47.7 46.5 45.3 44.2 43.1 42.1 41.1 40.1 39.2 38.3  | 116 kg
 115 kg |51.1 49.8 48.5 47.3 46.1 44.9 43.8 42.8 41.7 40.7 39.8 38.9 38.0  | 115 kg
 114 kg |50.7 49.3 48.1 46.8 45.7 44.5 43.4 42.4 41.4 40.4 39.4 38.5 37.7  | 114 kg
 113 kg |50.2 48.9 47.6 46.4 45.3 44.1 43.1 42.0 41.0 40.0 39.1 38.2 37.3  | 113 kg
 112 kg |49.8 48.5 47.2 46.0 44.9 43.7 42.7 41.6 40.6 39.7 38.8 37.9 37.0  | 112 kg
 111 kg |49.3 48.0 46.8 45.6 44.5 43.4 42.3 41.3 40.3 39.3 38.4 37.5 36.7  | 111 kg
 110 kg |48.9 47.6 46.4 45.2 44.1 43.0 41.9 40.9 39.9 39.0 38.1 37.2 36.3  | 110 kg
 109 kg |48.4 47.2 46.0 44.8 43.7 42.6 41.5 40.5 39.6 38.6 37.7 36.8 36.0  | 109 kg
 108 kg |48.0 46.7 45.5 44.4 43.3 42.2 41.2 40.2 39.2 38.3 37.4 36.5 35.7  | 108 kg
 107 kg |47.6 46.3 45.1 44.0 42.9 41.8 40.8 39.8 38.8 37.9 37.0 36.2 35.3  | 107 kg
 106 kg |47.1 45.9 44.7 43.6 42.5 41.4 40.4 39.4 38.5 37.6 36.7 35.8 35.0  | 106 kg
 105 kg |46.7 45.4 44.3 43.1 42.1 41.0 40.0 39.0 38.1 37.2 36.3 35.5 34.7  | 105 kg
 104 kg |46.2 45.0 43.9 42.7 41.7 40.6 39.6 38.7 37.7 36.8 36.0 35.2 34.4  | 104 kg
 103 kg |45.8 44.6 43.4 42.3 41.3 40.2 39.2 38.3 37.4 36.5 35.6 34.8 34.0  | 103 kg
 102 kg |45.3 44.1 43.0 41.9 40.9 39.8 38.9 37.9 37.0 36.1 35.3 34.5 33.7  | 102 kg
 101 kg |44.9 43.7 42.6 41.5 40.5 39.5 38.5 37.6 36.7 35.8 34.9 34.1 33.4  | 101 kg
 100 kg |44.4 43.3 42.2 41.1 40.1 39.1 38.1 37.2 36.3 35.4 34.6 33.8 33.0  | 100 kg
  99 kg |44.0 42.8 41.7 40.7 39.7 38.7 37.7 36.8 35.9 35.1 34.3 33.5 32.7  |  99 kg
  98 kg |43.6 42.4 41.3 40.3 39.3 38.3 37.3 36.4 35.6 34.7 33.9 33.1 32.4  |  98 kg
  97 kg |43.1 42.0 40.9 39.9 38.9 37.9 37.0 36.1 35.2 34.4 33.6 32.8 32.0  |  97 kg
  96 kg |42.7 41.6 40.5 39.4 38.5 37.5 36.6 35.7 34.8 34.0 33.2 32.4 31.7  |  96 kg
  95 kg |42.2 41.1 40.1 39.0 38.1 37.1 36.2 35.3 34.5 33.7 32.9 32.1 31.4  |  95 kg
  94 kg |41.8 40.7 39.6 38.6 37.7 36.7 35.8 34.9 34.1 33.3 32.5 31.8 31.0  |  94 kg
  93 kg |41.3 40.3 39.2 38.2 37.3 36.3 35.4 34.6 33.7 33.0 32.2 31.4 30.7  |  93 kg
  92 kg |40.9 39.8 38.8 37.8 36.9 35.9 35.1 34.2 33.4 32.6 31.8 31.1 30.4  |  92 kg
  91 kg |40.4 39.4 38.4 37.4 36.5 35.5 34.7 33.8 33.0 32.2 31.5 30.8 30.1  |  91 kg
  90 kg |40.0 39.0 37.9 37.0 36.1 35.2 34.3 33.5 32.7 31.9 31.1 30.4 29.7  |  90 kg
  89 kg |39.6 38.5 37.5 36.6 35.7 34.8 33.9 33.1 32.3 31.5 30.8 30.1 29.4  |  89 kg
  88 kg |39.1 38.1 37.1 36.2 35.3 34.4 33.5 32.7 31.9 31.2 30.4 29.7 29.1  |  88 kg
  87 kg |38.7 37.7 36.7 35.7 34.9 34.0 33.2 32.3 31.6 30.8 30.1 29.4 28.7  |  87 kg
  86 kg |38.2 37.2 36.3 35.3 34.4 33.6 32.8 32.0 31.2 30.5 29.8 29.1 28.4  |  86 kg
  85 kg |37.8 36.8 35.8 34.9 34.0 33.2 32.4 31.6 30.8 30.1 29.4 28.7 28.1  |  85 kg
  84 kg |37.3 36.4 35.4 34.5 33.6 32.8 32.0 31.2 30.5 29.8 29.1 28.4 27.7  |  84 kg
  83 kg |36.9 35.9 35.0 34.1 33.2 32.4 31.6 30.9 30.1 29.4 28.7 28.1 27.4  |  83 kg
  82 kg |36.4 35.5 34.6 33.7 32.8 32.0 31.2 30.5 29.8 29.1 28.4 27.7 27.1  |  82 kg
  81 kg |36.0 35.1 34.2 33.3 32.4 31.6 30.9 30.1 29.4 28.7 28.0 27.4 26.8  |  81 kg
  80 kg |35.6 34.6 33.7 32.9 32.0 31.2 30.5 29.7 29.0 28.3 27.7 27.0 26.4  |  80 kg
  79 kg |35.1 34.2 33.3 32.5 31.6 30.9 30.1 29.4 28.7 28.0 27.3 26.7 26.1  |  79 kg
  78 kg |34.7 33.8 32.9 32.1 31.2 30.5 29.7 29.0 28.3 27.6 27.0 26.4 25.8  |  78 kg
  77 kg |34.2 33.3 32.5 31.6 30.8 30.1 29.3 28.6 27.9 27.3 26.6 26.0 25.4  |  77 kg
  76 kg |33.8 32.9 32.0 31.2 30.4 29.7 29.0 28.3 27.6 26.9 26.3 25.7 25.1  |  76 kg
  75 kg |33.3 32.5 31.6 30.8 30.0 29.3 28.6 27.9 27.2 26.6 26.0 25.4 24.8  |  75 kg
  74 kg |32.9 32.0 31.2 30.4 29.6 28.9 28.2 27.5 26.9 26.2 25.6 25.0 24.4  |  74 kg
  73 kg |32.4 31.6 30.8 30.0 29.2 28.5 27.8 27.1 26.5 25.9 25.3 24.7 24.1  |  73 kg
  72 kg |32.0 31.2 30.4 29.6 28.8 28.1 27.4 26.8 26.1 25.5 24.9 24.3 23.8  |  72 kg
  71 kg |31.6 30.7 29.9 29.2 28.4 27.7 27.1 26.4 25.8 25.2 24.6 24.0 23.5  |  71 kg
  70 kg |31.1 30.3 29.5 28.8 28.0 27.3 26.7 26.0 25.4 24.8 24.2 23.7 23.1  |  70 kg
  69 kg |30.7 29.9 29.1 28.4 27.6 27.0 26.3 25.7 25.0 24.4 23.9 23.3 22.8  |  69 kg
  68 kg |30.2 29.4 28.7 27.9 27.2 26.6 25.9 25.3 24.7 24.1 23.5 23.0 22.5  |  68 kg
  67 kg |29.8 29.0 28.3 27.5 26.8 26.2 25.5 24.9 24.3 23.7 23.2 22.6 22.1  |  67 kg
  66 kg |29.3 28.6 27.8 27.1 26.4 25.8 25.1 24.5 24.0 23.4 22.8 22.3 21.8  |  66 kg
  65 kg |28.9 28.1 27.4 26.7 26.0 25.4 24.8 24.2 23.6 23.0 22.5 22.0 21.5  |  65 kg
  64 kg |28.4 27.7 27.0 26.3 25.6 25.0 24.4 23.8 23.2 22.7 22.1 21.6 21.1  |  64 kg
  63 kg |28.0 27.3 26.6 25.9 25.2 24.6 24.0 23.4 22.9 22.3 21.8 21.3 20.8  |  63 kg
  62 kg |27.6 26.8 26.1 25.5 24.8 24.2 23.6 23.1 22.5 22.0 21.5 21.0 20.5  |  62 kg
  61 kg |27.1 26.4 25.7 25.1 24.4 23.8 23.2 22.7 22.1 21.6 21.1 20.6 20.1  |  61 kg
  60 kg |26.7 26.0 25.3 24.7 24.0 23.4 22.9 22.3 21.8 21.3 20.8 20.3 19.8  |  60 kg
  59 kg |26.2 25.5 24.9 24.2 23.6 23.0 22.5 21.9 21.4 20.9 20.4 19.9 19.5  |  59 kg
  58 kg |25.8 25.1 24.5 23.8 23.2 22.7 22.1 21.6 21.0 20.5 20.1 19.6 19.2  |  58 kg
  57 kg |25.3 24.7 24.0 23.4 22.8 22.3 21.7 21.2 20.7 20.2 19.7 19.3 18.8  |  57 kg
  56 kg |24.9 24.2 23.6 23.0 22.4 21.9 21.3 20.8 20.3 19.8 19.4 18.9 18.5  |  56 kg
  55 kg |24.4 23.8 23.2 22.6 22.0 21.5 21.0 20.4 20.0 19.5 19.0 18.6 18.2  |  55 kg
  54 kg |24.0 23.4 22.8 22.2 21.6 21.1 20.6 20.1 19.6 19.1 18.7 18.3 17.8  |  54 kg
  53 kg |23.6 22.9 22.3 21.8 21.2 20.7 20.2 19.7 19.2 18.8 18.3 17.9 17.5  |  53 kg
  52 kg |23.1 22.5 21.9 21.4 20.8 20.3 19.8 19.3 18.9 18.4 18.0 17.6 17.2  |  52 kg
  51 kg |22.7 22.1 21.5 21.0 20.4 19.9 19.4 19.0 18.5 18.1 17.6 17.2 16.8  |  51 kg
  50 kg |22.2 21.6 21.1 20.5 20.0 19.5 19.1 18.6 18.1 17.7 17.3 16.9 16.5  |  50 kg
  49 kg |21.8 21.2 20.7 20.1 19.6 19.1 18.7 18.2 17.8 17.4 17.0 16.6 16.2  |  49 kg
  48 kg |21.3 20.8 20.2 19.7 19.2 18.7 18.3 17.8 17.4 17.0 16.6 16.2 15.9  |  48 kg
  47 kg |20.9 20.3 19.8 19.3 18.8 18.4 17.9 17.5 17.1 16.7 16.3 15.9 15.5  |  47 kg
  46 kg |20.4 19.9 19.4 18.9 18.4 18.0 17.5 17.1 16.7 16.3 15.9 15.5 15.2  |  46 kg
  45 kg |20.0 19.5 19.0 18.5 18.0 17.6 17.1 16.7 16.3 15.9 15.6 15.2 14.9  |  45 kg
  44 kg |19.6 19.0 18.6 18.1 17.6 17.2 16.8 16.4 16.0 15.6 15.2 14.9 14.5  |  44 kg
  43 kg |19.1 18.6 18.1 17.7 17.2 16.8 16.4 16.0 15.6 15.2 14.9 14.5 14.2  |  43 kg
  42 kg |18.7 18.2 17.7 17.3 16.8 16.4 16.0 15.6 15.2 14.9 14.5 14.2 13.9  |  42 kg
  41 kg |18.2 17.7 17.3 16.8 16.4 16.0 15.6 15.2 14.9 14.5 14.2 13.9 13.5  |  41 kg
  40 kg |17.8 17.3 16.9 16.4 16.0 15.6 15.2 14.9 14.5 14.2 13.8 13.5 13.2  |  40 kg
  39 kg |17.3 16.9 16.4 16.0 15.6 15.2 14.9 14.5 14.2 13.8 13.5 13.2 12.9  |  39 kg
  38 kg |16.9 16.4 16.0 15.6 15.2 14.8 14.5 14.1 13.8 13.5 13.1 12.8 12.6  |  38 kg
  37 kg |16.4 16.0 15.6 15.2 14.8 14.5 14.1 13.8 13.4 13.1 12.8 12.5 12.2  |  37 kg
  36 kg |16.0 15.6 15.2 14.8 14.4 14.1 13.7 13.4 13.1 12.8 12.5 12.2 11.9  |  36 kg
  35 kg |15.6 15.1 14.8 14.4 14.0 13.7 13.3 13.0 12.7 12.4 12.1 11.8 11.6  |  35 kg
  34 kg |15.1 14.7 14.3 14.0 13.6 13.3 13.0 12.6 12.3 12.0 11.8 11.5 11.2  |  34 kg
  33 kg |14.7 14.3 13.9 13.6 13.2 12.9 12.6 12.3 12.0 11.7 11.4 11.2 10.9  |  33 kg
  32 kg |14.2 13.9 13.5 13.1 12.8 12.5 12.2 11.9 11.6 11.3 11.1 10.8 10.6  |  32 kg
  31 kg |13.8 13.4 13.1 12.7 12.4 12.1 11.8 11.5 11.2 11.0 10.7 10.5 10.2  |  31 kg
  30 kg |13.3 13.0 12.6 12.3 12.0 11.7 11.4 11.2 10.9 10.6 10.4 10.1  9.9  |  30 kg
  29 kg |12.9 12.6 12.2 11.9 11.6 11.3 11.1 10.8 10.5 10.3 10.0  9.8  9.6  |  29 kg
  28 kg |12.4 12.1 11.8 11.5 11.2 10.9 10.7 10.4 10.2  9.9  9.7  9.5  9.2  |  28 kg
  27 kg |12.0 11.7 11.4 11.1 10.8 10.5 10.3 10.0  9.8  9.6  9.3  9.1  8.9  |  27 kg
  26 kg |11.6 11.3 11.0 10.7 10.4 10.2  9.9  9.7  9.4  9.2  9.0  8.8  8.6  |  26 kg
 Height = 150  152  154  156  158  160  162  164  166  168  170  172  174  = centimetres
 Height = 59.1 59.8 60.6 61.4 62.2 63.0 63.8 64.6 65.4 66.1 66.9 67.7 68.5 = inches

Retrieved from " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index"