Calculate your body mass index (BMI) in seconds and check the values chart for adults (women and men) and children. And something important if you have legs or arms that will not slim down: understand why BMI does not reflect lipedema well.
The body mass index (BMI) is a measure that relates your weight to your height to give a general idea of whether your weight is within a healthy range. It is a general reference figure, not a measure of body fat nor a diagnosis.
BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height² (m)
Example: 70 kg ÷ (1.65 m × 1.65 m) = 25.7Enter your details in the calculator and get your BMI (and also your waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios) instantly.
Enter your details once and get your BMI, your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), your waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and the indicative result of the lipedema test. This is an educational tool: it does not replace medical diagnosis.
This tool is indicative and educational. It does not constitute a medical diagnosis nor replace the assessment of a healthcare professional. Lipedema Advanced Care | Medical direction: Dr. Alexo Carballeira.
Reference classification of the World Health Organization (WHO) for adults. It applies equally to women and men.
| BMI | Classification | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight | Low |
| 18.5 to 24.9 | Normal weight | Healthy |
| 25.0 to 29.9 | Overweight | Review |
| 30.0 to 34.9 | Obesity class I | Risk |
| 35.0 to 39.9 | Obesity class II | High risk |
| 40.0 or above | Obesity class III | Very high |
Normal weight (BMI from 18.5 to 24.9) is the range generally considered healthy. BMI does not distinguish between fat and muscle nor show where fat accumulates.
No. The BMI cut-off points in adults are the same for women and for men (those in the table above). What does change is body composition: women tend to have a higher percentage of fat and men more muscle mass, so the same BMI can reflect different situations.
That is why BMI is only a reference figure. To assess fat distribution (which is interpreted differently by sex) the waist-to-hip ratio is useful, and as a risk predictor the waist-to-height ratio.
In children and adolescents, BMI is not interpreted with the adult values. It is assessed with BMI-for-age and sex, using percentiles from the growth charts (WHO / paediatric references). The same BMI number means different things depending on age.
| BMI percentile (by age and sex) | Classification | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Below the 3rd percentile | Underweight | Low |
| 3rd to 85th percentile | Normal weight | Healthy |
| 85th to 97th percentile | Overweight | Review |
| 97th percentile or above | Obesity | Risk |
These percentile cut-offs correspond to the WHO reference for school age and adolescence (5 to 19 years) and vary slightly depending on the reference used (WHO, CDC). In minors, the interpretation must be made by a paediatrician; this table is indicative.
In lipedema, fat accumulates in a pathological and disproportionate way in the legs or arms, and does not respond to diet like ordinary fat. This means BMI can overestimate excess fat and classify as overweight or obese women whose main problem is lipedema, not a calorie excess.
That is why BMI, on its own, has limited value in lipedema. In our clinic we assess each case with clinical examination and complementary measures, beyond BMI. Learn what lipedema is and its diagnosis.
If you suspect your case may be lipedema, these tools give a better orientation than BMI alone.
A good predictor of cardiometabolic risk. Work it out in the waist-to-height ratio.
Estimates abdominal fat distribution. See the waist-to-hip ratio.
9 key signs to help you tell whether you might have lipedema. Take the lipedema test.
You divide weight in kilograms by height in metres squared (BMI = weight ÷ height²). For example, 70 kg and 1.65 m: 70 ÷ (1.65 × 1.65) = 25.7.
It is the BMI range between 18.5 and 24.9, generally considered healthy in adults according to the WHO.
The cut-off points in adults are the same for both sexes. What varies is body composition, so BMI is best interpreted alongside other measures. If you notice a disproportionate build-up in the legs or arms, BMI may overestimate your case: take the lipedema test.
With the same formula, but it is interpreted by percentiles according to age and sex (WHO or CDC growth charts), not with the adult values. In minors it must be assessed by a paediatrician.
Not directly. It relates weight and height, but does not distinguish between fat and muscle nor show where fat accumulates. It is a reference figure, not a measure of body composition.
It has limited value: in lipedema, fat accumulates disproportionately in the legs or arms and BMI can overestimate it. It is best interpreted alongside other measures and a specialised assessment.
