The Body Mass Index or BMI is good way to check if you’re a healthy weight. Use our BMI calculator to check if you are a healthy weight for your height.

The BMI calculator can by used by all adults over 20, the score is valid for both men and women but it does have some limits. The limits are:

• 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.

Underweight

There could be a number of reasons why your BMI is below its recommended level, some of these may be related to nutrition or exercise! We would suggest contacting our campaign team for a chat and we can explore a number of ways in which we can help.

Healthy

Great! The results suggest that you are probably eating a sensible balanced diet and exercising regularly already… but of course there is always room for improvement! To help you maintain your target BMI and achieve the recommended 5 x 30 activity levels per week, our campaign team would love to get in touch! If you’re fit and healthy already, we’re passionate about helping you stay that way!

Overweight

Contact our campaign team now to discover innovative ways to begin your new active lifestyle.

Obese

Being obese can lead to a range of health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, joint problems and certain types of cancer. A structured nutrition and exercise programme can significantly help to improve your lifestyle and reduce the risk of major disease.

Contact our campaign team now for more information!

You can use this chart to check if you’re the right weight for your height.

This chart is only suitable for adult men and women. It isn’t suitable for children or young people under 18.
If you want to check if your child is a healthy weight for their height, or if you are under 18 yourself , use the BMI healthy weight calculator, which is suitable for both adults and children. Growth charts specifically for children are included in the red book (Personal Child Health Record) given to parents in most areas of England just before or after the birth of their child.

Interpreting the chart

Remember only suitable for people aged 18 and over.

Underweight

If you’re in the underweight range, there are a number of possible reasons for this. Your GP can help you find out more and give you help and advice. You can learn more by reading Nutrition for underweight adults.

Healthy weight

If you’re in this range, it means you’re a healthy weight for your height. However, to stay in good health, it’s still important to eat a balanced diet and include physical activity in your daily life. Adults should be active for at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) every week. Find out more in Benefits of exercise.

Overweight, obese or very obese

If you’re in any of these ranges, you’re heavier than is healthy for someone of your height. Excess weight puts you at increased risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. It’s time to take action. There’s lots of information, advice and support on NHS Choices that can help you.

Lose weight has information and advice on achieving a healthy weight.
Food and diet contains information and advice on healthy eating
Health and fitness gives you information on physical activity, including advice on how much exercise to do and how to get fit for free.

You can also talk to your GP or practice nurse. They can offer advice on lifestyle changes, and may refer you to a weight loss group or discuss other treatments. Find out more in How your GP can help.

Is this chart suitable for all adults?

This chart is suitable for most people aged 18 and over. However, if you have a very muscular build, it may not be suitable as having lots of muscle may put you in the overweight or obese categories, even if you have little body fat. For example, professional rugby players can fall into the ‘obese’ category despite having very little body fat. However, this will not apply to most people.
In addition to BMI, your waist circumference can provide information about your health. You can learn more in Why body shape matters.

Check your BMI

BMI (Body Mass Index) is another measure of whether you’re a healthy weight for your height. You can see if you are a healthy weight for your height and receive tailored advice by checking your BMI using our BMI healthy weight calculator.