Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI Calculator for Men with Sample Calculation

It's not new: many men are too overweight. Their weight affects their health. But what is a normal weight and at what point does one speak of obesity or adiposity? The Body Mass Index (BMI), has become the standard way of assessing body weight. With the help of our BMI calculator, you can easily determine your BMI yourself. You can find everything you need to know here.

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Age-related weight assessment for men

For research purposes, weight classification using BMI according to WHO is independent of age and gender. However, to account for the influence of these factors on weight, the calculator uses the more sophisticated classifications of the German Nutrition Society (gender-dependent) and the American National Research Council (age-dependent).

Why can't weight be assessed by pounds or kilograms?

The unit of measurement for indicating body mass is, of course, pounds resp. kilograms and grams – but this is not enough to assess a person's measurements. If a man weighs 180 lbs, he may look slim – if the weight is distributed over a length of 6 feet and 6 inches, for example. If he were only 5 feet and 3 inches tall, one might already see a noticeable belly bulge and recommend that he reduce his weight. Additionally, determining BMI alone is not sufficient for assessing his weight. The calculated value must be classified - what counts as normal weight, when is the person overweight and when must we speak of obesity? The BMI and its classification take into account the individual characteristics of the person, which include:

  • the body weight
  • the height
  • the age
  • the sex

How is the BMI calculated?

For the calculation of the Body Mass Index, please determine these values in advance:

  • Your current body mass (i.e. your weight)
  • The height

The BMI is the quotient of the body mass in kilograms and the square of the body length in metres. Please insert your data into this formula:

BMI = body mass in kg / (height in metres)²

or translated to the Anglo-American units

BMI = 703 × body mass in lbs / (height in inches)²

It's even easier to calculate with our BMI calculator!

How to calculate the BMI (body mass index) ?

In addition to your body mass and length, we also need your age and gender for the calculation. The calculator can do more. We have already stored the classification of the BMI values. The basis for this is the publications of the German Nutrition Society (DGE) for the assessment of BMI for both sexes and those of the American National Research Council for the consideration of age. Our graph now compares your result with the recommended normal weight. In addition, the virtual scale shows where your weight falls within the classification. You can see at a glance how many pounds you would have to lose to get into a better group.

How are the BMI figures for men evaluated?

The BMI values determined divide people into different groups:

  • People who are underweight
  • People who have a normal weight
  • People who are overweight

Since there are no upper limits and the physical impairments as well as the health risks increase with rising BMI, overweight is further classified into:

  • Overweight
  • Severe overweight - obesity I
  • Adiposity (obesity) II
  • Adiposity III

What should the BMI be for men?

According to the German Nutrition Society, these guideline values apply to the male sex:

CategoryMale
Underweight< 20
Normal weight20–24.9
Overweight25–29.9
Very overweight30–34,9
Grade II obesity35–39.9
Grade III obesity≥40
According to the American National Research Council for Men, an ideal BMI is:

  • 19-24 aged 19–24
  • 20–25 aged 25–34
  • 21–26 aged 35–44
  • 22–27 aged 45–54
  • 23–28 aged 55–65
  • 24–29 aged 65+

What does a sample calculation look like?

A 24-year-old man notes down these data:

  • Body mass 200 lbs
  • Body length 6 feet (72 inches)

Using the above formula, he calculates:

  • BMI = 703 × body mass in lbs / (body height in inches)²
  • BMI= 703 × 200 lbs / (72 inches)²
  • = 27.13 kg/m²

For his age, this BMI value would be too high. Ideally it should not exceed 24 kg/m². For such a value, he would have to reduce his weight by about 23 pounds. According to the German DGE, he is classified as overweight.

Is the calculator also suitable for children?

This calculator is designed for adult males and is not suitable for children or adolescents under 18 years of age. For this, use our BMI calculator for children and young people.

I am losing weight - do I need to recalculate the BMI?

The current body mass is part of the formula of the BMI; if you reduce weight, the BMI must be determined again.

When does the significance of the BMI reach its limits?

Our weight is not only dependent on our body height, stature and the proportion of muscles also play an important role. Muscles weigh more than fatty tissue - which is why the BMI reaches its limits even for people with a lot of trained muscles.

The following BMI is calculated for a strong athlete who participates in bodybuilding competitions:

  • Body mass 220 lbs
  • Body length 6 feet (72 inches)
  • Age 30 years
  • Sex male

This results in the following BMI calculation:

  • BMI = 703 × 220 lbs / (72 inches)²
  • = 29,84 kg/m²

Far from the ideal value for his age (20-25 kg/m²), he would also be severely overweight. However, no one will seriously recommend that he reduce his weight for health reasons.

Source information

As source for the information in the 'Body Mass Index' category, we have used in particular:

Last update

This page of the 'Body Mass Index' category was last edited or reviewed by Stefan Banse on February 20, 2023. It corresponds to the current status.

Changes in this category "Body Mass Index"

  • Editorial revision of this page