Seniors
BMI chart for seniors and women over 60
The adult BMI categories do not change with age. But research on people aged 65 and over suggests that a slightly higher BMI may be fine, and that a BMI at the low end of “healthy” deserves attention.
Short answer: the standard healthy range is BMI 18.5 to 24.9 for every adult. For older adults, the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, part of NIH) says experts recommend a BMI between 25 and 27, slightly higher than for younger adults. This is guidance, not a promise: your own healthy weight depends on your health, muscle and medicines.
What the research says
A large meta-analysis. Winter and colleagues pooled 32 studies of nearly 198,000 community-dwelling adults aged 65 and over, followed for about 12 years on average. Compared with a BMI of 23.0 to 23.9, mortality risk was 12% higher at BMI 21.0 to 21.9 and 19% higher at 20.0 to 20.9. Being overweight was not linked to higher mortality, and risk started to rise only above a BMI of about 33. The authors suggest monitoring weight in older people with a BMI under 23. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2014, via PubMed)
US government guidance. The NIDDK says experts recommend a BMI between 25 and 27 for older adults, and that the weight that is healthiest for you may be higher than that of a younger person. It also warns that some older adults have a BMI in the healthy range but still carry too much body fat, so waist size matters too. (NIDDK: Health Tips for Older Adults)
Muscle matters. Johns Hopkins geriatrician Colleen Christmas, M.D., explains that age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) can make BMI misleading, and that for adults 65 and older higher BMI numbers may signal better health. She also points out that building muscle can raise the number on the scale, and that this is weight that can help keep you active and safer from falls. (Johns Hopkins Medicine: Sarcopenia, BMI and adults age 65-plus)
Both ends still count. The National Institute on Aging notes that a high BMI in older adults can still raise the likelihood of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes. A slightly higher range does not mean any weight is fine. (NIA: Maintaining a Healthy Weight)
Why BMI is less exact later in life. Body fat tends to rise with age while muscle falls, and loss of height (for example from spinal changes) pushes BMI up without any change in body fat. A review in Diabetes Care describes BMI as a less accurate measure of body fat with increasing age. (Diabetes Care, via PubMed Central)
BMI table for older adults
The table shows, for each height, the weights that match the standard healthy range and the 25 to 27 range the NIDDK cites for older adults. The first column shows where BMI falls below 23, the point under which the meta-analysis above found higher mortality in people 65 and over. Use it as a talking point with your doctor, not as a target.
| Height | BMI under 23 | Standard healthy 18.5–24.9 | BMI 25–27 | Obesity 30+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ft 10 in (147 cm) | under 110 lb | 89 – 119 lb | 120 – 129 lb | 144 lb + |
| 4 ft 11 in (150 cm) | under 114 lb | 92 – 123 lb | 124 – 133 lb | 149 lb + |
| 5 ft 0 in (152 cm) | under 118 lb | 95 – 127 lb | 128 – 138 lb | 154 lb + |
| 5 ft 1 in (155 cm) | under 122 lb | 98 – 132 lb | 133 – 143 lb | 159 lb + |
| 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) | under 126 lb | 101 – 136 lb | 137 – 147 lb | 164 lb + |
| 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) | under 130 lb | 105 – 140 lb | 141 – 152 lb | 170 lb + |
| 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) | under 134 lb | 108 – 145 lb | 146 – 157 lb | 175 lb + |
| 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) | under 138 lb | 111 – 149 lb | 150 – 162 lb | 180 lb + |
| 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | under 143 lb | 115 – 154 lb | 155 – 167 lb | 186 lb + |
| 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | under 147 lb | 118 – 159 lb | 160 – 172 lb | 192 lb + |
| 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | under 151 lb | 122 – 164 lb | 165 – 177 lb | 197 lb + |
| 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | under 156 lb | 125 – 168 lb | 169 – 183 lb | 203 lb + |
| 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | under 160 lb | 129 – 173 lb | 174 – 188 lb | 209 lb + |
| 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | under 165 lb | 133 – 178 lb | 179 – 193 lb | 215 lb + |
| 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | under 170 lb | 137 – 183 lb | 184 – 199 lb | 221 lb + |
| 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | under 174 lb | 140 – 189 lb | 190 – 205 lb | 228 lb + |
| 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | under 179 lb | 144 – 194 lb | 195 – 210 lb | 234 lb + |
| 6 ft 3 in (190 cm) | under 184 lb | 148 – 199 lb | 200 – 216 lb | 240 lb + |
| 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | under 189 lb | 152 – 204 lb | 205 – 222 lb | 247 lb + |
| Height | BMI under 23 | Standard healthy 18.5–24.9 | BMI 25–27 | Obesity 30+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | under 52 kg | 42 – 56 kg | 57 – 60 kg | 68 kg + |
| 155 cm | under 56 kg | 45 – 59 kg | 60 – 64 kg | 72 kg + |
| 160 cm | under 59 kg | 48 – 63 kg | 64 – 69 kg | 77 kg + |
| 165 cm | under 63 kg | 51 – 67 kg | 68 – 73 kg | 82 kg + |
| 170 cm | under 67 kg | 54 – 72 kg | 73 – 78 kg | 87 kg + |
| 175 cm | under 71 kg | 57 – 76 kg | 77 – 82 kg | 92 kg + |
| 180 cm | under 75 kg | 60 – 80 kg | 81 – 87 kg | 98 kg + |
| 185 cm | under 79 kg | 64 – 85 kg | 86 – 92 kg | 103 kg + |
| 190 cm | under 83 kg | 67 – 90 kg | 91 – 97 kg | 109 kg + |
| 195 cm | under 88 kg | 71 – 94 kg | 95 – 102 kg | 114 kg + |
Women over 60
There is no separate BMI chart for women. The same table applies to women and men. After menopause, many women gain fat around the waist and lose some muscle and bone, so the same BMI can mean more body fat than it did at 40. That is why a waist measurement adds useful information: the NIDDK says women with a waist of more than 35 inches (89 cm) and men with more than 40 inches (102 cm) may be more likely to develop health problems. You can also check your waist-to-height ratio.
Strength training helps protect muscle and bone. If you want practical routines written for older adults, Healthy Agers has free guides to strength, balance and everyday movement after 50.
When to talk to a doctor
- You are losing weight without trying.
- Your BMI is under 23 and falling, or your clothes are getting loose.
- You are thinking about losing weight and have heart, kidney or bone problems, or take several medicines.
Want your own number? Use the BMI calculator; it gives the standard adult category and your healthy range.
Questions
What is a good BMI for a 70-year-old woman?
The official adult categories are the same at 70 as at 30: 18.5 to 24.9 is called healthy weight. But studies of adults 65 and over suggest that a BMI in the mid to upper 20s is not linked to higher mortality, and the US NIDDK says experts recommend a BMI between 25 and 27 for older adults. Ask your doctor what is right for you.
Is a BMI of 27 OK for seniors?
For many older adults, research suggests it may be. A 2014 meta-analysis of people aged 65 and over found the lowest mortality around BMI 27 to 28, and being overweight was not linked to higher mortality. That is a population finding, not a guarantee for one person; waist size, fitness, muscle and health conditions all matter.
Should older adults lose weight if their BMI is over 25?
Not automatically. Johns Hopkins geriatrician Colleen Christmas notes that many older adults with a BMI in the overweight range do not need to lose weight. Weight loss decisions in later life are best made with a doctor, especially because losing weight can also mean losing muscle.
Why is a low BMI a concern after 65?
In older adults, low BMI and unplanned weight loss are linked to higher risks, including weakness and bone loss. Unintended weight loss is worth mentioning to a doctor.
Are there separate BMI charts for women over 60?
No. Adult BMI categories are the same for men and women of every age. What changes after 60 is how much body fat and muscle a given BMI tends to mean, which is why waist size is a useful second measure.
Sources
- Winter JE, MacInnis RJ, Wattanapenpaiboon N, Nowson CA (2014). BMI and all-cause mortality in older adults: a meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 99(4): 875–890. PubMed 24452240.
- NIDDK (NIH): Health Tips for Older Adults.
- National Institute on Aging (NIH): Maintaining a Healthy Weight.
- Johns Hopkins Medicine: Sarcopenia, Body Mass Index and Adults Age 65-Plus.
- Tsigos C et al. (2013). Targets for body fat, blood pressure, lipids, and glucose-lowering interventions in healthy older people. Diabetes Care 36 (Suppl 2): S292–S300. PubMed Central.
- CDC: Adult BMI categories.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-06. Checked against the sources listed on this page.
BMI is a screening estimate, not a diagnosis and not medical advice. It does not measure body fat directly. For health questions, talk to a doctor or nurse.