What does the result of the BMI calculator say?

The Body Mass Index (short BMI) is one of several methods used to classify the weight of a person.

The BMI tells you whether you are within the health recommended normal range and can give you an indication of whether you should lose weight or are underweight. The BMI is calculated by dividing your actual weight by your height in metres squared. The BMI is the basis for almost every figure check, is often used in connection with diet and nutrition issues and even in a professional context. In some federal states, for example, civil servants in the public sector, such as teachers, are made dependent on the Body Mass Index.

You would like to have your BMI calculated? Nothing easier than that! Select your gender and enter your height and weight. Then you can have your BMI calculated.

BMI Formula

BMI = body weight : (height)²

An example: A 30-year-old woman with a body weight of 68 kilograms has a BMI of 23.53 at a height of 1.70 metres and is therefore of normal weight. 68kg / (1.70 * 1.70) = 23.53

Whether your weight is within the green range can be easily tested with our BMI calculator. This is based on the classic formula.

BMI Calculator

 
In fact, the optimal BMI depends on other factors as well - for example, your sex and age. Because a slightly increasing body fat percentage is absolutely normal with increasing age. That's why we have two tables for you below, which will help you to quickly and accurately determine whether your BMI is okay or whether you need to take action:

Women BMI

The BMI for women is different from that of men. Women naturally have a different physique with a higher fat percentage than men. These differences must be taken into account when calculating BMI.

To the BMI Table

Men BMI

In contrast to women, men have a higher muscle percentage, are larger and stronger built and naturally have less body fat. Therefore, the BMI is determined and calculated differently for men.

To the BMI Table

Children BMI

Children and young people are still in the physical development phase. Here, the body can change significantly in a few years. Therefore the BMI for children is calculated differently.

To the BMI Table

What you should know.

  • 1

    Body Mass Index

    The BMI provides information on the relationship between body weight and height. This allows the nutritional status of a person to be displayed and a rough assessment of the risk of overweight and obesity to be made.

  • 2

    BMI information

    Values between 18.5 and 24.9 are considered normal weight. Over 25 is considered to be overweight and over 30 is considered to be obese. However, it has been proven that even a BMI of 24 is an increased health risk.

  • 3

    Children BMI

    The BMI of children is given in so-called BMI percentiles. They are different for girls and boys because there is a difference in the development of body fat mass between the sexes.

  • 4

    BMI older people

    In people over 65, the BMI changes as the normal weight range increases for women to 29 and for men to 27 (increase in body fat content, decreasing proportion of body water).

BMI Tables

Men BMI Table

BMI Weight class
< 18.49 Underweight
18.50 - 24.99 Normalweight
25.00 - 27.49 Overweight, Level 1
27.50 - 29.99 Overweight, Level 2
30.00 - 32.49 Adipositas Status 1, Level 1
32.50 - 34.99 Adipositas Status 1, Level 2
35.00 - 37.49 Adipositas Status 2, Level 1
37.50 - 39.99 Adipositas Status 2, Level 2
> 40 Adipositas Status 3

Women BMI Table

BMI Weight class
< 17.49 Underweight
17.50 - 23.99 Normalweight
24.00 - 26.49 Overweight, Level 1
26.50 - 28.99 Overweight, Level 2
29.00 - 31.49 Adipositas Status 1, Level 1
31.50 - 33.99 Adipositas Status 1, Level 2
34.00 - 36.49 Adipositas Status 2, Level 1
36.50 - 38.99 Adipositas Status 2, Level 2
> 39 Adipositas Status 3

Children BMI Table

Age BMI Boys BMI Girls
1 15,5-18,3 15-17,9
2 14,5-17,1 14,4-17,2
3 14,4-17,0 14,1-16,9
4 14,1-16,7 13,9-16,8
5 13,9-16,7 13,8-17
6 14-16,8 13,8-17,1
7 14,2-17,1 13,9-17,4
8 14,4-17,5 14,1-17,8
9 14,6-18 14,4-18,4
10 14,9-18,6 14,8-19,1
11 15,3-19,3 15,3-20
12 15,7-20,1 15,9-20,9
13 16,3-20,9 16,5-21,9
14 16,9-21,9 17,4-23,3
15 17,6-22,8 17,7-23,7
16 18,2-23,7 18,1-24,2
17 18,7-24,4 18,3-24,7
18 19,2-25 18,5-24,9
19 19,5-25,6 18,6-25,1

What is the BMI?

The Body Mass Index, BMI for short, is the most common formula for calculating weight. It is calculated from the ratio of body weight in kilograms and height in metres squared. Depending on the value calculated, the German Nutrition Society (DGE) differentiates between five categories for evaluation purposes: Underweight, normal weight, overweight, extreme overweight (obesity) and massive obesity.

When is the BMI not meaningful?

  • The BMI is an orientation guide. For some groups of people this simple calculation has limited validity.
  • The Body Mass Index, for example, does not apply to people who do intensive weight training. Since their trained muscle mass is heavier than fat tissue, they may have an increased BMI and be incorrectly classified as overweight.
  • The BMI also does not provide information about the distribution of body fat, which influences the risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, an additional measurement of the abdominal girth would be useful.
  • Furthermore, the BMI does not distinguish between fat mass and water. Water accumulation in the tissue (e.g. in the case of oedema) thus causes an incorrectly high BMI.
  • Likewise, people with a broad body structure without visible obesity can have an increased BMI.
  • Even in very small or very large persons, the BMI has only limited significance.
  • Furthermore, it has been found that among the various population groups, the BMI also changes. For example, African Americans and Polynesians have a higher normal BMI and Chinese, Indonesians, Thais and Ethiopians have a lower normal BMI than us, the Western population.

How meaningful are the BMI values?

The Body Mass Index is a relatively good way to control your weight in relation to your height. Problems always arise when the BMI is calculated by people who do not correspond to the average. Since muscle mass is heavier than fat, the BMI of athletes is falsified. Athletes and bodybuilders should therefore rather have their physical condition assessed by a doctor.

The BMI is not the measure of all things. However, at second glance it gives a relatively good opportunity to assess the weight ratio. If you are not sure, consult your doctor.

Correction values for amputation

Since weight changes due to missing (amputated) body parts, such a limitation must be taken into account in the BMI calculation. To do this, BEFORE calculating your BMI, you convert your body weight using correction values and then use the corrected weight in the BMI calculator.
The formula for the corrected weight is
Corrected weight = (weight x 100) / (100 - correction value)
Correction values for body parts:
  • hand: 0.8
  • Forearm: 2.2
  • Upper arm: 8,5
  • whole arm: 11,5
  • Foot: 1,8
  • Lower leg: 5,3
  • Thigh: 11,6
  • whole leg: 18,7

WOMEN BMI
Calculator

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MEN BMI
Calculator

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CHILDREN BMI
Calculator

To the BMI Calculator