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Ideal BMI

An ideal BMI for adults is typically within the range of 18.5 and 24.9. For children and teenagers, a healthy BMI is between the 5th and 85th percentile. It is possible for a person without an ideal BMI to be healthy; athletes and people with muscular builds often have high BMI numbers. Recent studies show that less than half of US adults have an ideal BMI; approximately 15 percent of children and adolescents are overweight, and another 15 percent are at risk for being overweight.

 

Ideal BMI: An Overview

Body mass index (or BMI), is a tool that can be used to indirectly measure the level of body fatness in an individual. Because the BMI calculation requires only two pieces of information, height and weight, it is an inexpensive and easy screening method for weight categories that may lead to health problems.
 
(Click BMI Calculator to determine your BMI.)
 

Ideal BMI in Adults and Children

Although the BMI formula for adults and children is the same, the way that the results are interpreted does differ. Therefore, what is considered an ideal BMI also differs.
 
For adults, an ideal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. A person with a BMI over 24.9 is considered overweight, and a person with a BMI under 18.5 is considered underweight.
 
For children, an ideal BMI is between the 5th and 85th percentile.
 

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 limits. When BMI is used to calculate body fatness:
 
  • It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build
  • It may underestimate body fat in older persons 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 besides BMI when assessing the health risk for certain medical conditions.
 
(Click BMI and Weight for more information on other factors healthcare providers consider when determining risk for certain medical conditions related to weight.)
 
(Ideal BMI Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD