Body mass index, waist size, and risk for disease
Your body mass index (BMI) and waist size affect your risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and coronary artery disease. The following table shows the risk.
Body mass index (BMI) and the risk for diseases Classification BMI Waist size and relative risk Men: less than 40 in. (102 cm)
Women: less than 35 in. (88 cm)
Men: 40 in. (102 cm) or more
Women: 35 in. (88 cm) or more
Normal 18.5–24.9 — — Overweight 25–29.9 Increased risk High risk Obesity I 30–34.9 High risk Very high risk Obesity II 35–39.9 Very high risk Very high risk Obesity III (extreme) 40 or above Extremely high risk Extremely high risk A BMI under 18.5 is considered unhealthy. There is risk that you are not getting sufficient nutrition (malnutrition). Complications of malnutrition include anemia, nutrient deficiency, heart irregularities, loss of menstrual periods in women (amenorrhea), cavities, and osteoporosis. Being underweight may also result in depression and other mental health conditions.
| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: April 20, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism | |
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