Reading a screening result
A number to interpret in context
BMI relates body weight to height. It does not directly measure body fat or diagnose a health condition. This page uses adult categories, not the age-specific charts needed for children and teens.
Illustrative adult measurement
70 kg · 175 cm
22.9 kg/m²
70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75)
The tool labels this range “Normal”; CDC calls it “Healthy Weight”. The label is a category, not a complete health assessment.
| BMI | Category |
|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 to below 25 | Healthy weight |
| 25 to below 30 | Overweight |
| 30 or above | Obesity |
Check the inputs before the label
For metric entries, enter height in centimetres: 175, not 1.75. For imperial entries, enter pounds and separate feet and inches. A unit mismatch can create a dramatic result without reflecting a real change in your body.
The displayed number is rounded to one decimal place, while the category is chosen from the unrounded calculation. Very close to a boundary, the displayed number may round to the next threshold even though the underlying value remains just below it.
What to bring to a conversation about the result
Confirm your measurements and units, then consider the result alongside your medical history and other health information with a qualified clinician. A calculator has no information about muscle mass, pregnancy, symptoms, or your individual circumstances. Do not use this adult result to assess pregnancy weight gain or a child’s growth.
Changing between metric and imperial changes the input fields; enter the matching measurements in the selected system. It should not be treated as a new health assessment. The tool runs locally and does not save or upload your measurements.