Table 1.
Classification of Overweight and Obesity by Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference, and Associated Disease Risk
| BMI (kg/m2) | Obesity Class | Disease Risk (Relative to Normal Weight and Waist Circumference)* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men: ≤40 inches (≤102 cm)
Women: ≤35 in (≤88 cm) |
> 40 inches (>102 cm)
> 35 inches (>88 cm) |
|||
| Underweight | < 18.5 | — | — | |
| Normal weight‡ | 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 | III | Extremely high | Extremely high |
*
Disease risk for type-2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
‡
Increased waist circumference can also be a marker for increased risk even in persons of normal weight.
Adapted from Obesity: Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic. WHO, 1997.3