What does a BMI of 25 for Men mean?
A BMI of 25 explained
Is a BMI of 25 healthy?
On the standard scale used by the World Health Organization[1], a BMI of 25 is overweight — so it is not in the healthy range. This is in the overweight (pre-obesity) range. It is associated with a higher risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, although BMI alone does not capture body composition or where fat is stored.
Keep in mind that BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnosis[2]: it can over- or under-estimate body fat for muscular, athletic, or larger- and smaller-framed people, and it is judged differently once age and sex are taken into account (see below). For advice about your own health, talk with your doctor.
How a BMI of 25 is classified by age and sex
The standard BMI scale is the same for everyone, but body composition changes with age. The table below shows how a BMI of 25 is classified for each age group and sex, using the redefined cut-offs from a 2015 NCBI study[3].
| Age (years) | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 16–29 | normal | normal |
| 30–39 | normal | normal |
| 40–49 | overweight | overweight |
| 50–59 | overweight | overweight |
| 60–69 | overweight | overweight |
| 70–79 | overweight | normal |
| 80+ | overweight | normal |
What weight gives a BMI of 25?
A BMI of 25 is a different weight at each height. To reach this BMI you would weigh:
| Height | Weight |
|---|---|
| 150 cm (4'11") | 56.3 kg (124 lb) |
| 155 cm (5'1") | 60.1 kg (132 lb) |
| 160 cm (5'3") | 64.0 kg (141 lb) |
| 165 cm (5'5") | 68.1 kg (150 lb) |
| 170 cm (5'7") | 72.3 kg (159 lb) |
| 175 cm (5'9") | 76.6 kg (169 lb) |
| 180 cm (5'11") | 81.0 kg (179 lb) |
| 185 cm (6'1") | 85.6 kg (189 lb) |
| 190 cm (6'3") | 90.3 kg (199 lb) |
| 195 cm (6'5") | 95.1 kg (210 lb) |
Nearby BMI values
BMI of 23 BMI of 24 BMI of 26 BMI of 27
Popular BMI values
BMI 18 BMI 20 BMI 22 BMI 24 BMI 27 BMI 28 BMI 30 BMI 35 BMI 40
What is BMI?
BMI (Body Mass Index) is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters. For most people it is a good predictor of health problems linked to excess or lack of weight. It is also known as Quetelet's index.
BMI on its own does not measure body fat directly, so it can be misleading for very muscular or large-framed people. Our scale is better than a standard BMI chart because it factors in both age and sex.
Standard BMI Chart (WHO)
This table defines the fixed BMI ranges still widely used to compare populations.
| BMI | Weight Status |
|---|---|
| 9.0 to 18.5 | underweight |
| 18.6 to 24.9 | normal |
| 25.0 to 29.9 | overweight |
| 30.0 and above | obese |
Modified BMI Chart (by age and sex)
A 2015 NCBI study adjusted the overweight and obese limits to reflect changes in body composition with age. These redefined thresholds drive the table at the top of this page.
| Male | Female | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | Overweight | Obese | Overweight | Obese |
| 16–29 | 28 | 33 | 27 | 32 |
| 30–39 | 27 | 32 | 27 | 32 |
| 40–49 | 25 | 30 | 25 | 30 |
| 50–59 | 24 | 29 | 24 | 29 |
| 60–69 | 24 | 29 | 25 | 30 |
| 70–79 | 25 | 30 | 26 | 31 |
| 80+ | 25 | 30 | 26 | 31 |
Important note
This calculator is not a source of clinical guidance. BMI is only an indicator of body fatness and does not apply to athletic or very muscular builds, nor to children. Do not take important health decisions based on this or any other web tool. Discuss weight loss or diet changes with your doctor or nutritionist.
References:
- World Health Organization — Obesity and overweight (fact sheet)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Adult BMI Categories
- The need to redefine age- and gender-specific overweight and obese body mass index cutoff points (NCBI, 2015)
BMI categories follow WHO and CDC guidance; the age- and sex-adjusted ranges follow the 2015 NCBI study. Last updated: Sep 2026.
What does a BMI of… mean?
Popular BMI values by sex
BMI of 30 for women BMI of 25 for women BMI of 25 for men BMI of 28 for women BMI of 28 for men BMI of 24 for women BMI of 27 for women BMI of 27 for men BMI of 26 for women BMI of 22 for women BMI of 20 for women BMI of 21 for women BMI of 31 for men BMI of 34 for women BMI of 36 for women BMI of 37 for women