BMI Chart Poster - Read Body Mass Index Quickly

Over two-thirds of the people in the United States are overweight or obese. This BMI poster uses the established body mass index or BMI chart to help individuals see where their weight falls in proportion to their height. Show them where they are on the scale and guide them to use effective diet and lifestyle means to lose weight. Plus it is fun to see progress!

Use the BMI index on this wellness poster to assess weight and health risks.

Learning objectives & benefits:

• NHLBI scientific Body Mass Index (BMI) Chart
• Color ranges help everyone see just where they stand
  
• This wellness poster advises, "Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of your weight relative to your height. It may not be accurate for athletes and those with a muscular build or for seniors with reduced muscle mass. Talk to your doctor to see if you should lose weight. A weight loss of just 10% of your current weight will help lower the risk for developing diseases associated with obesity."
• It makes an excellent poster for homes, gyms, offices, classes, and exam rooms.

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What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple screening number that estimates body fatness from a person's height and weight. It is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared, or in US units as BMI = 703 × weight (lb) ÷ height (in)². Because it is quick, low-cost, and easy to explain, BMI is widely used in clinics, exam rooms, schools, and worksite wellness programs as a first step to flag when someone may benefit from a closer look at their health.

How to read a BMI chart

Find the person's height along one side of the chart and their weight along the other. The number where the two meet is the BMI. Compare that number to the standard adult categories:

• Below 18.5 — Underweight
• 18.5 – 24.9 — Healthy weight
• 25.0 – 29.9 — Overweight
• 30.0 and above — Obesity

The color bands on this poster make each category easy to see at a glance, so clients can find where they fall without doing any math.

BMI FAQ

How do you calculate BMI?

In US units, multiply weight in pounds by 703, then divide by height in inches squared. For example, a person who is 5'6" (66 inches) and weighs 160 pounds has a BMI of 703 × 160 ÷ (66 × 66) = about 25.8. In metric units, divide weight in kilograms by height in meters squared.

What is a healthy BMI range?

For most adults, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered a healthy weight. Below 18.5 is underweight, 25.0 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30.0 or higher falls in the obesity range.

Is BMI accurate?

BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. It does not distinguish muscle from fat, so it can misclassify athletes and very muscular people as overweight, and it can miss low muscle mass in older adults. It is most useful when read alongside other measures such as waist circumference, activity level, diet quality, and lab work — especially now, as weight and health care place more emphasis on body composition and muscle health. Use BMI to start a conversation, not to label a person.

Does BMI work for children and teens?

Not in the same way. Children and teens are assessed with age- and sex-specific BMI-for-age percentiles rather than the fixed adult categories above. This poster uses the adult BMI ranges.

What size is this poster and where does it work best?

It is a laminated 18" x 24" poster in English for general adult audiences. The wipe-clean lamination makes it ideal for clinics and exam rooms, classrooms and cafeterias, gyms, and employee wellness programs and health fairs.