What weight is overweight
Overweight Calculator
Overweight Calculator
This calculator can be used to calculate your overweight status.
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Normal weight range for the height: 128.9 - 174.2 lbs.
What Is Being Overweight and Obesity?
Overweight refers to increased body weight in relation to height beyond the accepted standard. The standard has been defined by the medical profession on the basis of a variety of reference percentiles based on body mass index (BMI) in various populations. A widely used set of reference BMI values is that developed by three doctors (Must A, Dallal GE, and Dietz WH Reference Data for Obesity, 1991) which is based on the sample from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I).
Becoming overweight may or may not be due to increases in body fat. It may also be due to an increase in lean muscle. For example, professional athletes or military personnel may be very lean and muscular, with very little body fat, yet they may weigh more than others of the same height. While they may qualify as overweight due to their large muscle mass, they are not necessarily fat.
Obesity is defined as an excessively high amount of body fat or adipose tissue in relation to lean body mass. Being obese means that body fat is now beyond an accepted standard for your height.
Currently, 34 percent of Americans are overweight and a separate 34 percent are obese, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
Genetics Matter, But Don't Tell the Whole Story
There is a clear genetic tendency for obesity. But only for a relatively small percentage of the population. There is also a genetic tendency to becoming overweight, but this is less clearly defined.
Genetics don't tell the whole story, however. "Genes are not destiny," states the Harvard School of Public Health in a recent study.
For example, studies show that some of us have a genetic tendency to gain weight while eating fried foods, while others can consume all the fries they want to without gaining much weight.
In 2008, for example, a group of scientists demonstrated that physical activity offsets the effects of one obesity-promoting gene, a common variant of FTO. The study, in which 17,058 Danish men and women took part, found that people who carried the obesity-promoting gene, and who were inactive, had higher BMIs than people without the gene variant who were inactive. Having a genetic predisposition to obesity did not seem to matter, however, for people who were active: Their BMIs were no higher or lower than those of people who did not have the obesity gene.
Physical Activity Makes the Difference
It adds up to this: Physical activity gets energy out and helps keep you at a healthy weight, regardless of your genetic inheritance.
The best way to avoid being fat forever is to not get too fat in the first place. The latest research shows that, once you've been heavy and lost weight, you have to eat less and exercise more to simply maintain your body at a new, lower weight than would someone at the same height and weight who has never been heavy essentially dieting for the rest of your life just to break even.
It Helps to Never Gain Too Much Weight
This is because the very act of losing weight places your body in a metabolically disadvantaged state for how long, nobody is sure. Therefore, you need fewer calories simply to stay thinner, even if you're not trying to lose. There's a penalty to pay for having been overweight, experts say.
A study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggests that if a person loses 10 percent of his or her body weight going from, for example, 150 pounds to 135 pounds there is a long-lasting change in the levels of hunger-controlling hormones which will make her crave food. The body seeks to defend that formerly heavier weight you got to, and it has vigorous mechanisms to achieve that, the study shows. As soon as you drop your guard, the weight creeps back on because your metabolism is not working as efficiently. That's why losing a great deal of weight and keeping it off happens so infrequently.
Can you lose weight while pregnant?
Can I lose weight while pregnant?
No matter how much you weigh, it's not safe to lose weight while pregnant. (The one exception to this in the early weeks of pregnancy see the reasons why below.)
The effect of a mom's weight gain or loss on her baby during pregnancy is a complicated issue that experts continue to study, but we know that losing weight during pregnancy isn't compatible with growing a healthy baby. And if you're losing weight, you may not be getting all the calories and nutrients you need for a healthy pregnancy.
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While being overweight or obese during pregnancy increases your risk for some pregnancy complications, losing weight during pregnancy puts you at risk of having a baby who is too small (small for gestational age, or SGA) and for preterm birth.
What if I lose weight in early pregnancy?
It can be normal to lose weight in early pregnancy, due to:
- Morning sickness. In the first trimester, it's common to lose weight as the result of morning sickness. The nausea can diminish your appetite, and the vomiting can cause you to miss out on calories. Don't worry, your baby will get all the necessary calories and nutrients they need at this point.
- Fat reserves. Overweight women have an extra reserve of calories in stored fat, so as your baby grows, it's not harmful to maintain or even lose a little weight at first.
- Improved lifestyle. You might lose weight early on if you've started exercising or eating healthier foods when you became pregnant.
In most cases, this weight loss isn't dangerous. If you're losing a lot of weight, though, or if you think you may be suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness), tell your provider right away.
How much weight to gain if you're pregnant and overweight or obese
If you started off your pregnancy carrying too much weight for your height, you're not alone. More than half of pregnant women are overweight or obese.
You're considered overweight if your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) is between 25 and 29.9. (Your BMI reflects the relationship between your height and weight, and is an estimate of body fat.) You're considered obese if your BMI is 30 or greater.
Not sure what your BMI is? Try this BMI calculatorOpens a new window.
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How much to gain during pregnancy depends on your BMI:
- If your BMI is 25 to 29.9: It's recommended that you gain between 15 and 25 pounds by the end of your pregnancy, or approximately 2 to 3 pounds per month in your second and third trimesters.
- If your BMI is 30 or higher: You're advised to gain 11 to 20 pounds during pregnancy.
For guidance, try our pregnancy weight gain calculator and learn more about pregnancy weight gain.
Though it's not safe to lose weight during pregnancy, if you're overweight or obese during pregnancy you may be able to safely gain less than the recommended amount with your healthcare provider's guidance and monitoring.
Pregnancy weight gain recommendations are provided by the Institutes of Medicine (IOM), and there's been some controversy about the IOM amounts stated for obese women. One issue is that the IOM provided one recommendation for all obese women (those with a BMI of 30 or higher) rather than different numbers for different categories of obesity.
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According to some researchers, if you're overweight or obese, it may be safe (and advantageous) for you to gain less than IOM guidelines recommend. Some studies show that overweight or obese women who gain only 6 to 14 pounds had similar or better neonatal outcomes than women who gained the recommended 15 to 20 pounds, for example.
If you're overweight or obese, talk with your provider about your target weight gain during pregnancy. If you gain less weight than recommended, they'll want to monitor you and your baby to be sure your pregnancy is progressing well and your baby is growing appropriately.
Can I diet to lose weight during pregnancy?
Pregnancy is definitely not the time to go on a weight-loss diet, no matter what weight you're at. Restricting your food intake is potentially hazardous to you and your developing baby. You need enough calories and nutrients to support a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Also, steer clear of carbohydrate-restrictive diets such as keto and Atkins. Your growing baby needs the carbohydrates, and ongoing ketosis caused by these diets can harm a developing fetus.
During pregnancy, you can keep your weight gain within your target range by eating healthfully and exercising regularly. Do your best to:
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- Eat balanced meals and healthy snacks.
- Stay hydrated by drinking an average of about ten 8-ounce cups of water each day.
- Choose complex carbs such as beans, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains over simple carbohydrates such as white bread, white rice, and white pasta.
- Monitor your weight with your healthcare provider to make sure you're on track.
For more tips, read our article on how to avoid gaining too much weight during pregnancy.
Weight loss during pregnancy: Warning signs
Losing weight in the second or third trimester can signal a problem. In some cases, weight loss can be harmless (a result of water loss after temporary retention, for example), but it's important to let your provider know.
They'll assess your diet and activity habits and ask questions about symptoms, such as nausea, heartburn, bloating, and constipation, all of which can understandably discourage expecting moms from eating. Your provider may also want to screen you for depression or fetal growth restriction.
Also, tell your provider immediately if you have suddenly have a dramatic weight loss, such as five pounds in a week.
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Learn more:
Definition & Facts for Adult Overweight & Obesity
What are overweight and obesity?
People whose weight is higher than what is considered healthy for their height are described as having overweightor obesity.1 Overweight and obesity can increase your risk for many health problems.
Body mass index
Overweight and obesity are defined by body mass index(BMI). BMI is a measurement that uses your weight and height to estimate overweight and obesity. The table below shows BMI ranges for overweight and obesity in adults ages 20 and older.
BMI of adults ages 20 and older
| BMI | Category |
|---|---|
| 18.5 to 24.9 | Healthy weight |
| 25 to 29.9 | Overweight |
| 30+ | Obesity (including severe obesity) |
| 40+ | Severe obesity |
Calculate your BMI with this online tool.
How common are overweight and obesity?
Overweight and obesity are common among U.S. adultsages 20 and older. According to estimates based on data from the 20172018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)2
- nearly 1 in 3 adults (30.7%) have overweight
- more than 2 in 5 adults (42.4%) have obesity, including about 1 in 11 adults (9.2%) with severe obesity
- nearly 3 in 4 adults (73.1%) have overweight or obesity
Sex
Men are more likely than women to have overweight or obesity. Among adults ages 20 and older, 77.1% of men and 69.4% of women have overweight or obesity.2 But severe obesity, or having a BMI greater than 40, is more common among women (11.5%) than men (6.9%).
Race and ethnicity
Overweight and obesity rates also vary among racial and ethnic groups. According to 20172018 NHANES data, obesity affects2
- nearly 1 in 2 non-Hispanic Black adults (49.6%)
- more than 2 in 5 Hispanic adults (44.8%)
- more than 2 in 5 non-Hispanic White adults (42.2%)
- more than 1 in 6 non-Hispanic Asian adults (17.4%)
Other groups
Overweight and obesity also vary among other groups. For example, obesity is more common among people in rural areas than among those who live in urban areas.3
References
[1] Defining adult overweight & obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated June 7, 2021. Accessed May 24, 2023. www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html
[2] Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Afful J. Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, and Severe Obesity Among Adults Aged 20 and Over: United States, 19601962 through 20172018. NCHS Health E-Stats. 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated February 8, 2021. Accessed May 24, 2023. www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity-adult-17-18/obesity-adult.htm
[3] Hales CM, Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Freedman DS, Aoki Y, Ogden CL. Differences in obesity prevalence by demographic characteristics and urbanization level among adults in the United States, 20132016. JAMA. 2018;319(23):24192429. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.7270
