Overweight Calculator
- Updated
- Imperial and metric
- Free, no sign-up
Results
190 lb at 5 ft 9 in is BMI 28.1 (overweight), 21 lb above the healthy BMI range. Waist-to-height ratio 0.52: increased central adiposity.
| BMI | Boundary | Weight | Compared with yours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18.5 | Healthy weight starts | 125 lb | −65 lb |
| 25 | Overweight starts | 169 lb | −21 lb |
| 30 | Obesity class 1 starts | 203 lb | +13 lb |
| 35 | Obesity class 2 starts | 237 lb | +47 lb |
| 40 | Obesity class 3 starts | 271 lb | +81 lb |
BMI and waist-to-height ratio are screening measures, not a diagnosis. Muscle, frame and health conditions all affect what a healthy weight looks like for you.
This is an estimate from a published formula, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or registered dietitian about your own situation.
How to use the overweight calculator
- Enter your height and weight in US or metric units.
- Optionally measure your waist midway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, after breathing out normally.
- Read the distance from the healthy range, then the table of weights at each BMI boundary for your height.
Formulas used
Above the range = your weight − weight at BMI 24.9
Below the range = weight at BMI 18.5 − your weight
Waist-to-height ratio = waist ÷ height (same units)
The adult BMI boundaries are fixed by the WHO and CDC: 18.5 for a healthy weight, 25 for overweight, and 30, 35 and 40 for obesity classes 1, 2 and 3. Solving the BMI formula for weight at each boundary shows what those numbers mean at your height. Waist-to-height ratio comes from NICE guideline NG246, which classes 0.4 to 0.49 as healthy central adiposity, 0.5 to 0.59 as increased and 0.6 or more as high, for adults with a BMI under 35.
Worked example
At 5 ft 9 in and 190 lb, BMI is 28.1 (overweight). The top of the healthy range is 24.9 × 69² ÷ 703.07 = 168.6 lb, so the weight is 21.4 lb above the healthy range. Overweight starts at 169.3 lb and obesity at 203.2 lb. With a 36 in waist, the waist-to-height ratio is 36 ÷ 69 = 0.52, in NICE's "increased central adiposity" band; a waist under 34.5 in would bring it below 0.5.
Weight at each BMI boundary
Generated with the calculator's engine, in pounds, with the largest waist for a waist-to-height ratio under 0.5.
| Height | BMI 18.5 | BMI 25 | BMI 30 | BMI 35 | BMI 40 | Waist under (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 0 in | 95 | 128 | 154 | 179 | 205 | 30 |
| 5 ft 2 in | 101 | 137 | 164 | 191 | 219 | 31 |
| 5 ft 4 in | 108 | 146 | 175 | 204 | 233 | 32 |
| 5 ft 6 in | 115 | 155 | 186 | 217 | 248 | 33 |
| 5 ft 8 in | 122 | 164 | 197 | 230 | 263 | 34 |
| 5 ft 10 in | 129 | 174 | 209 | 244 | 279 | 35 |
| 6 ft 0 in | 136 | 184 | 221 | 258 | 295 | 36 |
| 6 ft 2 in | 144 | 195 | 234 | 273 | 312 | 37 |
| 6 ft 4 in | 152 | 205 | 246 | 288 | 329 | 38 |
Waist-to-height ratio bands (NICE)
| Ratio | NICE classification | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0.4 to 0.49 | Healthy central adiposity | No increased health risks |
| 0.5 to 0.59 | Increased central adiposity | Increased health risks |
| 0.6 or more | High central adiposity | Further increased health risks |
NICE says these bands apply to adults of both sexes and all ethnicities with a BMI under 35, including people with high muscle mass, and that the health risks of higher central adiposity include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Putting the numbers in context
- These are screening numbers. They point to possible risk; they don't diagnose anything or say how healthy you are.
- Muscle changes the picture. If you are muscular, waist-to-height ratio or a body fat estimate is more informative than BMI.
- Lower thresholds for some groups. NICE uses overweight from BMI 23 and obesity from 27.5 for people of South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean background.
- Trends matter more than one reading. Measure your waist the same way each time and compare over months.
To see the full healthy range at every height, use the healthy weight calculator. This is not medical advice; talk to a doctor or registered dietitian.
Sources
- CDC, Adult BMI Categories.
- NICE guideline NG246, Overweight and obesity management: identifying and assessing overweight, obesity and central adiposity, recommendations 1.9.10 and 1.9.11 (published January 2025, updated January 2026).
Frequently asked questions
How do I know how much I am over a healthy weight?
Work out the weight at a BMI of 24.9 for your height, the top of the healthy range, and subtract it from your weight. At 5 ft 9 in the top of the range is about 168.6 lb, so someone weighing 190 lb is about 21 lb above it.
At what weight am I considered overweight?
For adults, overweight starts at a BMI of 25 and obesity at 30. At 5 ft 9 in that is about 169 lb and 203 lb; at 175 cm it is about 76.6 kg and 91.9 kg. The calculator lists the weight at every boundary for your height.
What is a healthy waist-to-height ratio?
NICE, the UK health guidance body, advises keeping your waist to less than half your height: a ratio under 0.5. A ratio of 0.5 to 0.59 means increased health risks and 0.6 or more further increased risks. At 5 ft 9 in, that means a waist under 34.5 inches.
Why measure waist as well as BMI?
BMI can’t show where fat is carried. Fat around the middle is more closely linked with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, so NICE recommends measuring waist-to-height ratio for people with a BMI under 35.
Does being overweight by BMI always mean I need to lose weight?
No. BMI is a screening measure. Muscular people often have a BMI over 25 with little body fat, and health depends on many things beyond weight. A doctor or registered dietitian can look at your waist, blood pressure, blood tests and history to decide what, if anything, is worth changing.