Defining Overweight and Obesity
Overweight: An adult whose BMI is between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011a).
Obese: An adult whose BMI is 30 or higher is considered obese (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011a).
Here is an example: For an individual who is 5’9” tall: (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011a)
Weight Range BMI Considered
124 lbs or less Below 18.5 Underweight
125 to 168 lbs 18.5 to 24.9 Normal weight
169 to 202 lbs 25.0 to 29.9 Overweight
203 lbs or more 30 or higher Obese
BMI correlates with, but is not a direct measure of, body fat (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012b). This means, some people, such as some
athletes may have a high BMI, not have excess body fat.
The amount, and distribution of body fat can also be estimated through the use of skinfold thickness, waist circumference, calculation of waste-to-hip circumference ratio, or through the use of ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012b).
Individuals who are overweight or obese are at greater risk for developing weight related diseases and health problems (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011a).
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends that in addition to BMI, individuals consider their waist circumference and other risk factors when assessing their risk of developing diseases and conditions that are more prevalent among people who are overweight or obese (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011a). For Men a waist circumference of over 40” and for women a waist circumference of over 35” is associated with greater health risk (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 2013).
You can access the NHLBI web site at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/risk.htm.
Obese: An adult whose BMI is 30 or higher is considered obese (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011a).
Here is an example: For an individual who is 5’9” tall: (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011a)
Weight Range BMI Considered
124 lbs or less Below 18.5 Underweight
125 to 168 lbs 18.5 to 24.9 Normal weight
169 to 202 lbs 25.0 to 29.9 Overweight
203 lbs or more 30 or higher Obese
BMI correlates with, but is not a direct measure of, body fat (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012b). This means, some people, such as some
athletes may have a high BMI, not have excess body fat.
The amount, and distribution of body fat can also be estimated through the use of skinfold thickness, waist circumference, calculation of waste-to-hip circumference ratio, or through the use of ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012b).
Individuals who are overweight or obese are at greater risk for developing weight related diseases and health problems (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011a).
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends that in addition to BMI, individuals consider their waist circumference and other risk factors when assessing their risk of developing diseases and conditions that are more prevalent among people who are overweight or obese (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011a). For Men a waist circumference of over 40” and for women a waist circumference of over 35” is associated with greater health risk (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 2013).
You can access the NHLBI web site at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/risk.htm.