The Average BMI Data

Obesity has been caused by the consumption of too much high-calorie food.

According to the CDC, the average BMI for American men is 26.6 and for women is 26.5. Those BMI values fall within the marginally overweight category on the BMI scale.

Definition

BMI, body mass index, is a tool used to measure obesity. A person has to divide his weight, in kilograms, by his height, in meters squared, to get his BMI number.

Categories

There are BMI numerical ranges that are categorized as underweight, normal range, overweight and morbidly obese. These categories serve as a tool to become healthier and guide your daily caloric intake to achieve or maintain a healthy BMI.

Older Adults

While the BMI table applies to adults, the normal BMI range for older adults is a little different. A healthy BMI for people 45 to 54 years old is 22 to 27, 55 to 65 years old is 23 to 28, and for any over 65 years old it is 24 to 29.

References

• Fuse: BMI
• Halls MD: Body Mass Index