How is overweight diagnosed?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Overweight is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 kilograms per meters squared (kg/m2); a person’s BMI is calculated by dividing their weight by the square of their height. More specifically, a person with:[1]

    • A BMI of <18.5 is “underweight”
    • A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is “normal weight”
    • A BMI of 25 to 29.9 has “overweight”
    • A BMI of 30 to 34.9 has “class I obesity”
    • A BMI of 35 to 39.9 has “class II obesity”
    • A BMI of >40 has “class III obesity”

    References

    1. ^Garvey WT, Mechanick JI, Brett EM, Garber AJ, Hurley DL, Jastreboff AM, Nadolsky K, Pessah-Pollack R, Plodkowski R,AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGISTS AND AMERICAN COLLEGE OF ENDOCRINOLOGY COMPREHENSIVE CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR MEDICAL CARE OF PATIENTS WITH OBESITY.Endocr Pract.(2016-Jul)