What is Obesity?

Obesity is generally defined as being 20 percent or more over ideal body weight. Over time, there have been a number of systems used to measure obesity. For example, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company created tables years ago to help predict ideal body weight and provide an estimate of body fat composition. While useful, these tables do have limitations.

Height & Weight Table for Women

Height Feet Inches	Small Frame	Medium Frame	Large Frame
4' 10"	102-111	109-121	118-131
4' 11"	103-113	111-123	120-134
5' 0"	104-115	113-126	122-137
5' 1"	106-118	115-129	125-140
5' 2"	108-121	118-132	128-143
5' 3"	111-124	121-135	131-147
5' 4"	114-127	124-138	134-151
5' 5"	117-130	127-141	137-155
5' 6"	120-133	130-144	140-159
5' 7"	123-136	133-147	143-163
5' 8"	126-139	136-150	146-167
5' 9"	129-142	139-153	149-170
5' 10"	132-145	142-156	152-173
5' 11"	135-148	145-159	155-176
6' 0"	138-151	148-162	158-179
Weight at ages 25-29 based on lowest mortality. Weight in pounds according to frame (in indoor clothing weighing 3 pounds; shoes with 1" heels).

 

Height & Weight Table for Men

Height Feet Inches	Small Frame	Medium Frame	Large Frame
5' 2"	128-134	131-141	138-150
5' 3"	130-136	133-143	140-153
5' 4"	132-138	135-145	142-156
5' 5"	134-140	137-148	144-160
5' 6"	136-142	139-151	146-164
5' 7"	138-145	142-154	149-168
5' 8"	140-148	145-157	152-172
5' 9"	142-151	148-160	155-176
5' 10"	144-154	151-163	158-180
5' 11"	146-157	154-166	161-184
6' 0"	149-160	157-170	164-188
6' 1"	152-164	160-174	168-192
6' 2"	155-168	164-178	172-197
6' 3"	158-172	167-182	176-202
6' 4"	162-176	171-187	181-207
Weight at ages 25-29 based on lowest mortality. Weight in pounds according to frame (in indoor clothing weighing 5 pounds; shoes with 1" heels).

Data courtesy of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Currently, the body mass index (or BMI) is considered the best available indicator of excess body weight. BMI is calculated by dividing an individual’s weight in kilograms by the square of the height in meters. Your weight in pounds can be converted to kilograms by dividing it by 2.2; your height in inches can be converted to meters by multiplying it by 0.0254.

Someone who is 20 percent or more over their ideal body weight typically has a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher. Clinically severe (or morbid) obesity is considered to be 100 pounds or more over ideal body weight, corresponding to a BMI of 40 kg/m2. People with a BMI greater than 35 kg/m2 and serious health problems related to obesity are also categorized as having clinically severe obesity.

What is the significance of the BMI?

BMI is used to predict which patients are at the highest risk for weight-related medical problems and identify which patients would benefit most from procedures designed to help them lose weight.

People with clinically severe obesity are at a much greater risk of serious health problems and death than those of the same age at ideal body weight. Some examples of the medical problems that occur more frequently in people with BMIs over 35-40 kg/m2 are:

Other problems related to obesity can include depression, low self-esteem, physical disability, social discrimination and unemployment—to name only a few.