BMI Calculator
The 18.5-to-24.9 range was set from studies of middle-aged adults. In people over 65, a review of studies following about 200,000 people found the lowest death rates around a BMI of 27.5 — technically "overweight" — and rising risk below 23. For your height, that's about 147 lb to 176 lb. Keeping muscle and staying active matter more than hitting a lower number.
At 5 ft 7 in and 175 lb, your BMI is 27.4 — overweight by standard CDC cut-offs. A healthy weight for your height is 118 lb – 159 lb. After 65, research links the lowest death rates to a somewhat higher BMI, around 27 to 28.
- You don't need to reach the healthy range to benefit: losing 5% of your weight — about 9 lb — measurably improves blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. After 65, a BMI in the high 20s isn't by itself a reason to lose weight.
- Measure your waist: it shows belly fat, which BMI can't. Keep your waist under half your height — 33.5 in for you.
Key Answers About Your BMI
Each answer is recalculated from your entries above.
Your BMI is 27.4: your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared (79.4 ÷ 1.70²). That falls in the overweight category by standard CDC cut-offs.
For 5 ft 7 in, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 means a weight of 118 lb – 159 lb. You are 15 lb above the top of that range.
A large review of studies in people over 65 found the lowest death rates at a BMI of about 27.5 and higher risk once BMI fell below 23. For your height that is about 176 lb and 147 lb. Extra weight in later life can be a reserve during illness, while being too thin — and losing muscle — carries real risks. At 65, your BMI of 27.4 is in a range that's generally fine at your age.
To reach the top of the healthy range you'd lose about 15 lb, but even 5% — 9 lb — brings real health benefits. Losing about half a pound to a pound a week, with enough protein and strength exercise, protects muscle.
BMI is a quick screening number, not a diagnosis. It can't tell muscle from fat, so it overestimates fat in very muscular people and underestimates it in older adults who have lost muscle. A 2025 international expert commission advised confirming excess body fat with a waist measurement or body scan rather than relying on BMI alone — except at a BMI over 40.
Measure around your middle, just above your hip bones, after breathing out. Divide by your height: under 0.5 is healthy, 0.5 to 0.59 means increased risk, and 0.6 or more means high risk. For you, half your height is 33.5 in.
If your family background is South Asian, Chinese or other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean, health risks start at a lower BMI. Switch to "adjusted cut-offs" to see your category using thresholds of 23 for overweight and 27.5 for obesity.
BMI Chart for Your Height
What you would weigh at each BMI, at 5 ft 7 in.
| BMI | Weight | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 18.5 | 118 lb | Healthy weight |
| 23.0 | 147 lb | Healthy weight |
| 25.0 | 160 lb | Overweight |
| 27.5 | 176 lb | Overweight |
| 30.0 | 192 lb | Obesity, class 1 |
| 35.0 | 224 lb | Obesity, class 2 |
| 40.0 | 255 lb | Obesity, class 3 (severe) |
Weights near yours
| Weight | BMI | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 160 lb | 25.1 | Overweight |
| 170 lb | 26.6 | Overweight |
| 180 lb | 28.2 | Overweight |
| 190 lb | 29.8 | Overweight |
| 200 lb | 31.3 | Obesity, class 1 |
BMI Categories for Adults
| Category | Standard (CDC) | Adjusted (NICE) |
|---|---|---|
| Underweight | Below 18.5 | Below 18.5 |
| Healthy weight | 18.5 – 24.9 | 18.5 – 22.9 |
| Overweight | 25 – 29.9 | 23 – 27.4 |
| Obesity, class 1 | 30 – 34.9 | 27.5 – 32.4 |
| Obesity, class 2 | 35 – 39.9 | 32.5 – 37.4 |
| Obesity, class 3 (severe) | 40 or higher | 37.5 or higher |
The adjusted cut-offs come from the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, for people of South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African and African-Caribbean family background. BMI categories for children and teens use age- and sex-specific percentiles instead, so this calculator is for adults 20 and older.
What to Do in Your Situation
Losing 5% of your weight over 6 to 12 months without trying is worth telling your doctor about — it can signal illness, medication side effects, dental problems or depression. For older adults, a falling BMI is often more concerning than a high one.
Medicare Part B covers intensive behavioral therapy for obesity — regular counseling visits with your primary care provider — with no copay or deductible when the provider accepts assignment. Ask about it at your next visit or your Annual Wellness Visit.
BMI can look fine while muscle is being replaced by fat — a condition called sarcopenia that raises the risk of falls. Strength exercises two or more days a week and enough protein at each meal are the best protection; a doctor or physical therapist can check grip strength and walking speed.
BMI is one screening tool, and how you feel, move and sleep matter just as much. If thoughts about weight or food are causing you distress, talk with your doctor or a counselor. The National Alliance for Eating Disorders runs a free helpline.
How This Calculator Works
BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height in meters (or 703 × pounds ÷ inches²). Categories follow the CDC's adult ranges, or NICE's lowered thresholds if you choose adjusted cut-offs; your category is based on BMI rounded to one decimal. The healthy weight range is the weight at a BMI of 18.5 up to just under the overweight threshold for your height. BMI Prime is your BMI divided by the upper healthy limit, so 1.00 is the top of the healthy range.
Waist-to-height ratio is your waist divided by your height; NICE advises keeping it under 0.5, with 0.5 to 0.59 meaning increased risk and 0.6 or more meaning high risk. The older-adult range comes from a 2014 meta-analysis in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition covering people 65 and older.
This calculator is a screening tool for adults and is not medical advice or a diagnosis. BMI doesn't account for muscle, bone, body shape or pregnancy. Talk with your doctor about what a healthy weight means for you.
Key sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (CG189) · Winter JE et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2014) · Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission on Clinical Obesity (2025) · American Diabetes Association · Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services