Basics Overweight and Obesity Chart By Paige Waehner facebook linkedin Paige Waehner is a certified personal trainer, author of the "Guide to Become a Personal Trainer"; and co-author of "The Buzz on Exercise & Fitness." Learn about our editorial process Paige Waehner Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard Fogoros, MD on July 08, 2015 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Review Board Richard Fogoros, MD Updated on February 02, 2020 Print A. Green / Getty Images The chart below, created by the NHLBI, provides a guideline for assessing the level of overweight and obesity by using two common calculations: Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference. BMI uses a calculation using your weight and height to determine where you fall in the BMI categories - Underweight, normal, overweight, obese or extremely obese. Classification of Overweight and Obesity by BMI, Waist Circumference, and Associated Disease Risks Disease Risk* Relative to Normal Weight and Waist Circumference Disease Risk* Relative to Normal Weight and Waist Circumference BMI(kg/m2) ObesityClass Men 102 cm (40 in) or lessWomen 88 cm (35 in) or less Men > 102 cm (40 in)Women > 88 cm (35 in) Underweight < 18.5 - - Normal 18.5-24.9 - - Overweight 25.0-29.9 Increased High Obesity 30.0-34.9 I High Very High 35.0-39.9 II Very High Very High Extreme Obesity 40.0 + III Extremely High Extremely High * Disease risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and CVD. + Increased waist circumference also can be a marker for increased risk, even in persons of normal weight. Your BMI and Waist Circumference BMI is one of the simplest, most commons ways to assess overweight and obesity in the general population, but it doesn't tell the whole story. The formula for calculating your BMI doesn't factor many things that can affect your BMI such as how much muscle you have, your gender, how your body fat is distributed and your frame size. All of these factors can skew the numbers, sometimes showing overweight or obesity when it isn't the case. Still, it's the best tool we have for the time being and can be useful when you take into account each individual's situation. Your waist measurement is also an important factor in our risk for things like diabetes and heart disease. As the chart shows, the higher your waist measurement, the more at risk you are. Calculate Your BMI This calculator uses the standard formula (Weight (lb) / [Height (in)]2 x 703) to calculate your BMI. Give it a try! Measure Your Waistline The chart above also includes waist circumference, which is another important way to assess health. If you're a man with a waistline of greater than 40 inches or a woman with a waistline of greater than 35 inches, you're at a higher risk for things like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. To measure your waist size (circumference), take off any loose clothing and mark the smallest area between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the hip bones. Wrap the tape measure around your waist, keeping the tape snug and parallel to the floor. Relax, exhale, and take the measurement. You can also compare your waist-to-hip ratio to get an idea of your health. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to lose weight? Our nutrition guide can help you get on the right track. Sign up for our newsletter and get it free! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. NIH. (n.d.). Losing Weight, Body Mass Index. In National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.