What is the Ideal BMI for Men As per Height?
The ideal BMI for men ranges from 18.5 to 24.9 as per their height. Adult men with a BMI within this range are considered healthy, while those below this range are considered underweight, and those above this range are considered overweight or obese. Men can use a BMI calculator or the formula mentioned below to calculate their BMI:
BMI = Weight (kg) ÷ Height² (m²)
For example, a man with a weight of 73 kg and a height of 1.75 m will have a BMI of:
BMI = 73 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = 23.84
Here is the BMI range used for adult men aged 20 years and above that classifies them into underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obese:
BMI Range
Category
Less Than 18.5
Underweight
18.5 – 24.9
Normal Weight
25.0 – 29.9
Overweight
30.0 and Above
Obese
How to Get the Ideal BMI for Men As Per Height?
Adult men can fall within the healthy BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9 by maintaining a specific weight range based on height. The table below highlights the healthy weight range for men based on their height to get an ideal BMI:
Height (m)
Height (ft-in)
Healthy Weight Range
1.52
5′0″
42.7 – 57.5 kg
1.55
5′1″
44.4 – 59.8 kg
1.60
5′3″
47.4 – 63.7 kg
1.65
5′5″
50.4 – 67.8 kg
1.70
5′7″
53.5 – 72.0 kg
1.75
5′9″
56.6 – 76.2 kg
1.80
5′11″
59.9 – 80.5 kg
1.85
6′1″
63.2 – 85.1 kg
1.90
6′3″
66.8 – 89.7 kg
1.95
6′5″
70.2 – 94.7 kg
What is the Ideal BMI for Men As Per Age?
BMI calculations and interpretations differ for teenagers and adult men aged 20 years & above. The ideal BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9 is the same for men of all ages. However, till 19 years old, BMI for men is interpreted using percentiles from age-specific growth charts instead of just relying on the BMI range.
The ideal BMI percentile for an 18-year-old teenager is between the 3rd - 85th percentile. You can check the BMI percentile range for men till 19 years of age in the table given below:
For example, a man with a weight of 73 kg and a height of 1.75 m will have a BMI of:
BMI = 73 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = 23.84
Here is the BMI range used for adult men aged 20 years and above that classifies them into underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obese:
BMI Percentile
Classification
Below 3rd Percentile
Underweight
3rd - 85th Percentile
Healthy Weight
85th – 97th Percentile
Overweight
Above 95th Percentile
Obese
Limitations of BMI for Adult Men
For adult men, the BMI categories are same, regardless of the age. However, BMI does not directly measure body fat percentage and only serves as a screening tool to flag potential health risks. It can be misleading for muscular man with high muscle mass as their BMI may fall under the overweight category even if the body fat percentage is low. Hence, BMI should not be the only criteria of monitoring health.

FAQs

  • Q. What is a good BMI for a man as per age?

    Ans: For adult men of age 20 years and above, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy.
  • Q. How much should a 175 cm male weigh?

    Ans: For a male of 175 cm height, a healthy weight is between 57 and 76 kg.
  • Q. Is 75 kg overweight for 5'7 as per BMI for men?

    Ans: Yes. A 5'7 (170 cm) height and 75 kg weight equate to a BMI of 25.9, which is slightly overweight for men.
  • Q. Which BMI for men is correct?

    Ans: As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the ideal BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9 for a healthy man.
  • Q. How to reduce BMI for a man?

    Ans: Men can naturally reduce their BMI by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding processed foods, and maintaining a calorie deficit.
  • Q. What is the perfect BMI for a man?

    Ans: A BMI between 18.5 - 24.9 is often considered healthy for adult men. You can use a BMI calculator online by entering your height and weight.
  • Q. How to calculate BMI for a man?

    Ans: You can calculate BMI for a man by dividing the weight in kg by the square of the height in meters.
  • Q. How to increase BMI for a man?

    Ans: Men can naturally try to increase their BMI by consuming more healthy calories than they burn. They can include healthy fats and proteins, and do strength training to gain weight and increase BMI.
  • Q. What is the best BMI for my age male?

    Ans: The best BMI for males, irrespective of their age, is 18.5 to 24.9.
  • Q. What is the BMI for Indian men?

    Ans: The ideal BMI range for Indian men is 18.5 to 24.9.