BMI Chart for Women
Healthy weight ranges for women from 4'11" to 6'0" using WHO classifications. Includes metric and imperial tables, plus important notes on body composition and pregnancy.
Table Legend
Metric Chart (cm / kg)
| Height | Underweight | Normal weight | Overweight | Obese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm (4'11") | < 42 kg | 42–56 kg | 57–67 kg | ≥ 68 kg |
| 153 cm (5'0") | < 43 kg | 43–58 kg | 59–69 kg | ≥ 70 kg |
| 155 cm (5'1") | < 44 kg | 44–60 kg | 61–71 kg | ≥ 72 kg |
| 158 cm (5'2") | < 46 kg | 46–62 kg | 63–75 kg | ≥ 76 kg |
| 160 cm (5'3") | < 47 kg | 47–64 kg | 65–76 kg | ≥ 77 kg |
| 163 cm (5'4") | < 49 kg | 49–66 kg | 67–79 kg | ≥ 80 kg |
| 165 cm (5'5") | < 50 kg | 50–68 kg | 68–81 kg | ≥ 82 kg |
| 168 cm (5'6") | < 52 kg | 52–70 kg | 71–84 kg | ≥ 85 kg |
| 170 cm (5'7") | < 54 kg | 54–72 kg | 73–86 kg | ≥ 87 kg |
| 173 cm (5'8") | < 55 kg | 55–74 kg | 75–89 kg | ≥ 90 kg |
| 175 cm (5'9") | < 57 kg | 57–76 kg | 77–91 kg | ≥ 92 kg |
| 178 cm (5'10") | < 59 kg | 59–79 kg | 80–94 kg | ≥ 95 kg |
| 180 cm (6'0") | < 60 kg | 60–81 kg | 82–97 kg | ≥ 98 kg |
Imperial Chart (ft/in · lbs)
| Height | Underweight | Normal weight | Overweight | Obese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4'11" | < 93 lbs | 93–124 lbs | 125–148 lbs | ≥ 149 lbs |
| 5'0" | < 95 lbs | 95–128 lbs | 129–152 lbs | ≥ 153 lbs |
| 5'1" | < 98 lbs | 98–132 lbs | 133–157 lbs | ≥ 158 lbs |
| 5'2" | < 101 lbs | 101–136 lbs | 137–164 lbs | ≥ 165 lbs |
| 5'3" | < 105 lbs | 105–140 lbs | 141–169 lbs | ≥ 170 lbs |
| 5'4" | < 108 lbs | 108–145 lbs | 146–174 lbs | ≥ 175 lbs |
| 5'5" | < 111 lbs | 111–149 lbs | 150–179 lbs | ≥ 180 lbs |
| 5'6" | < 115 lbs | 115–154 lbs | 155–185 lbs | ≥ 186 lbs |
| 5'7" | < 118 lbs | 118–159 lbs | 160–190 lbs | ≥ 191 lbs |
| 5'8" | < 122 lbs | 122–163 lbs | 164–196 lbs | ≥ 197 lbs |
| 5'9" | < 125 lbs | 125–168 lbs | 169–202 lbs | ≥ 203 lbs |
| 5'10" | < 129 lbs | 129–173 lbs | 174–208 lbs | ≥ 209 lbs |
| 6'0" | < 136 lbs | 136–183 lbs | 184–220 lbs | ≥ 221 lbs |
BMI and Body Composition in Women
Women naturally carry 6–11% more body fat than men at the same BMI. This biological difference exists because of reproductive hormones and is not a health concern in itself. What matters is whether fat is distributed in a protective (subcutaneous) or risky (visceral/abdominal) pattern.
- Waist circumference: Women with a waist above 80 cm (31.5 in) face elevated metabolic risk. Above 88 cm (35 in) risk is substantially higher, independent of BMI.
- BMI underestimates fat in older women: After menopause, muscle loss (sarcopenia) means body fat rises while weight and BMI may stay the same — masking an unhealthy shift in composition.
- BMI may overestimate risk in athletic women: Women with high muscle mass from sport or strength training may read as "overweight" despite low body fat.
BMI During Pregnancy
Standard BMI charts do not apply during pregnancy — weight gain is expected and healthy. BMI is assessed at the start of pregnancy (pre-pregnancy weight) and is used only to recommend appropriate total weight gain, not as a health benchmark during gestation.
Always follow your healthcare provider's specific guidance during pregnancy.
Average BMI for Women by Age (US)
| Age group | Average BMI | Average weight (5'4" / 163 cm) |
|---|---|---|
| 20–29 | 26.8 | ~71 kg / ~157 lbs |
| 30–39 | 27.9 | ~74 kg / ~163 lbs |
| 40–49 | 28.9 | ~77 kg / ~169 lbs |
| 50–59 | 29.6 | ~79 kg / ~174 lbs |
| 60–69 | 29.8 | ~79 kg / ~175 lbs |
Source: NHANES data (CDC). Most adult American women fall in the overweight category by WHO standards — a trend that has risen steadily since the 1980s.
How to Read This Chart
Find your height in the left column of the metric or imperial table and read across to see the weight boundaries for each WHO BMI category. The boundaries are mathematically exact: the "normal weight" column gives you the precise weight range where your BMI falls between 18.5 and 24.9 at that height. Every weight in that column, rounded to the nearest kilogram or pound, produces a BMI within the healthy range.
The most important thing to understand about the chart is that the healthy weight range is a band, not a single number. A woman who is 165 cm tall has a healthy range of roughly 50–68 kg — an 18 kg window. Within that range, there is no evidence-based reason to aim for one end over the other based on BMI alone. Your position within the range matters far less than being within it.
BMI in Women: Specific Considerations
Women carry a higher percentage of body fat than men at any given BMI value — a physiological difference that exists because of the demands of reproductive function. The healthy body fat range for women (20–35%) is substantially higher than for men (8–25%), which is why the same BMI threshold applies to both sexes despite the different body compositions. A woman at BMI 22 has a higher absolute body fat percentage than a man at BMI 22, and that is entirely normal.
This also means that BMI underestimates fat-related health risk differently in women than in men. While men are more likely to be misclassified as overweight due to muscle mass, women are more likely to have a "normal" BMI while carrying a disproportionate amount of visceral fat — particularly after menopause, when fat distribution shifts toward the abdomen. Research shows that waist circumference is a better predictor of metabolic risk in women over 50 than BMI, and the WHO threshold for elevated risk in women (waist above 80 cm) is lower than for men (above 94 cm).
Pregnancy and the postpartum period are obvious contexts in which this chart does not apply. BMI during and after pregnancy is managed through specific clinical guidelines, not general population charts.
BMI and Body Image: Using This Tool Without Harm
BMI charts and weight tables carry a psychological weight that calorie or fitness metrics generally do not. Research on eating disorder risk shows that regular weighing and BMI tracking can be counterproductive for people with a history of disordered eating, body dysmorphia, or high health anxiety. The purpose of a reference like this is to provide useful context — not to create a target number that must be achieved.
The research on weight and wellbeing consistently shows that sustainable health behaviours (regular movement, adequate sleep, a varied diet, low chronic stress) produce better outcomes than weight-focused interventions that prioritise BMI reduction as the goal. If you find that consulting a BMI chart increases anxiety or drives restrictive behaviour rather than informing a constructive health decision, it is worth speaking with a healthcare professional about a different framework for thinking about weight and health.
This is not a disclaimer — it is a genuine observation from the research. The healthiest relationship with a number like BMI is an informed, periodic reference, not a daily metric to be optimised.
BMI Changes Through a Woman's Life
Average BMI increases with age for women, as it does for men, but the pattern and drivers are somewhat different. Before menopause, weight gain tends to be distributed more subcutaneously (under the skin, especially at the hips and thighs) — a fat distribution pattern associated with lower cardiometabolic risk than abdominal fat. After menopause, the decline in oestrogen shifts fat distribution toward the abdomen, increasing visceral fat accumulation even in women whose total weight and BMI remain stable.
This is why some researchers argue that the standard WHO BMI thresholds are less useful for postmenopausal women than a combined assessment of BMI plus waist circumference. A BMI of 24 in a 30-year-old woman and a BMI of 24 in a 60-year-old woman represent meaningfully different body composition profiles and health risk contexts. The chart does not capture this — which is why we include the waist circumference reference values alongside the BMI tables wherever possible.
NHANES data show that the average BMI for American women increases from approximately 26.8 in the 20–29 age group to 29.2 in the 60–69 age group — placing the average woman in the overweight category by her forties. This is a population observation, not a prescription. Individual health depends on far more than where your BMI lands relative to a population average.
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