Healthy BMI Range

The healthy BMI range is commonly used as a general guideline to assess whether body weight is associated with lower or higher health risk. It applies to most adults but should be interpreted carefully.

You can calculate your BMI using our BMI calculator and then compare your result to the healthy range.

What is the healthy BMI range?

For most adults, the healthy BMI range is:

• 18.5 to 24.9

This range is associated with lower risk of many chronic conditions at a population level, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Healthy BMI meanings (by number)

Browse common BMI values in the healthy range:

• BMI 19 meaning
• BMI 20 meaning
• BMI 21 meaning
• BMI 22 meaning
• BMI 23 meaning
• BMI 24 meaning

See the full list here: BMI meaning by number

What BMI ranges mean

• Below 18.5: Underweight
• 18.5–24.9: Healthy (normal) weight
• 25–29.9: Overweight
• 30 and above: Obesity

These categories are screening tools. They do not diagnose health conditions or measure body fat directly.

Limitations of the healthy BMI range

While useful, the healthy BMI range has important limitations. It does not account for:

• Muscle mass
• Fat distribution
• Age-related changes
• Individual health markers

For example, someone with high muscle mass may have a BMI above the healthy range without having excess body fat.

Using BMI as a starting point

BMI works best as a starting point for understanding weight-related health, not as a final answer. Waist measurement, fitness level, diet, and medical history all provide important context.

To see where you fall, calculate your BMI using our free BMI calculator.