BMI for ages 35 to 39
If you are aged 35 to 39, the adult BMI bands apply to you. Here they are worked through for 5 ft 2 in and 159 lb.
How it works
BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. Enter pounds and inches and the page converts them for you. With 5 ft 2 in and 159 lb entered, the page squares 1.5748 meters to get 2.480.
Worked example
Example: 5 ft 2 in and 159 lb converts to 1.5748 m and 72.1 kg. Then 72.1 ÷ (1.5748 × 1.5748) = 72.1 ÷ 2.480 = 29.1, which is overweight.
Common questions
Does age or sex change the adult BMI result?
The number itself does not change. The formula uses only height and weight. Some health bodies suggest different cut points for some groups. Ask your doctor what suits you. At age 37 the result for 5 ft 2 in and 159 lb is 29.1, the same as at any other adult age.
How is the 101 to 136 lb range worked out?
It is the weight that gives a BMI of 18.5 and the weight that gives 24.9 at 5 ft 2 in. The calculator reverses the formula for you. At 5 ft 2 in that range is 35 lb wide.
What BMI range counts as a healthy weight for adults?
Under 18.5 is underweight. 18.5 to 24.9 is a healthy weight. 25 to 29.9 is overweight. 30 or more is obesity. At 5 ft 2 in, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 works out to 101 to 136 lb.
Does BMI measure body fat?
No. BMI only uses height and weight. Two people with the same BMI can carry very different amounts of fat and muscle. At 5 ft 2 in and 159 lb, the BMI of 29.1 comes from those two numbers alone.
Is BMI accurate for muscular people?
It can read high for someone with a lot of muscle, because muscle weighs more than the same volume of fat. A body fat measurement gives a better picture in that case. At 159 lb, the BMI of 29.1 says nothing about how much of that weight is muscle.