What Is a Healthy BMI for Men? (UK)

The NHS considers a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 healthy for adult men. Below 18.5 is underweight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 and above is in the obese range. These are the same bands used for women — BMI is a sex-neutral calculation. What differs is the context: men on average carry more muscle mass than women at the same BMI, and they deposit fat more readily around the abdomen, which is the fat that most affects cardiovascular risk.

The healthy BMI range for men, in stones and pounds

For a quick read on whether your weight sits in the NHS healthy range, here are the upper and lower bounds for common UK men’s heights:

• 5ft 6in — roughly 8st 8lb to 11st 6lb (55–73 kg)
• 5ft 8in — roughly 9st 1lb to 12st 1lb (58–77 kg)
• 5ft 10in — roughly 9st 8lb to 12st 11lb (61–82 kg)
• 6ft 0in — roughly 10st 3lb to 13st 8lb (65–86 kg)
• 6ft 2in — roughly 10st 12lb to 14st 6lb (69–91 kg)
• 6ft 4in — roughly 11st 7lb to 15st 3lb (73–96 kg)

For your exact numbers and a percentile comparison against the UK male population, use the UK BMI calculator, or see the full BMI chart.

When is BMI most misleading for men?

Muscular and athletic men

BMI cannot tell muscle from fat. A lean man who lifts seriously — or a rugby player, rower, or labourer with years of strength work — can easily carry a BMI of 27 to 30 while having low body fat. This is the single most common way BMI misfires for men. If you are muscular and your BMI flags overweight or obese, add a waist measurement: a waist under 94 cm alongside a high BMI usually means the BMI is overreading.

“Skinny-fat” men

The reverse is possible too. A man with a BMI in the healthy range can still have substantial visceral fat — the fat around the organs that drives cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes risk. Men who have lost muscle mass through inactivity or ageing are especially vulnerable. A waist-to-height ratio above 0.5, even at a healthy BMI, is worth acting on.

Older men

Evidence on men over 65 consistently shows that a BMI slightly above the NHS healthy range is not associated with higher mortality. What matters more at older ages is maintaining muscle mass, mobility and avoiding unintentional weight loss. If you are over 65 and losing weight without trying, speak to your GP.

What waist measurement counts as high risk for men?

Waist measurement complements BMI in a way no other simple check does. The NHS risk thresholds for men:

• Under 94 cm (37 inches) — low risk
• 94–102 cm (37–40 inches) — increased risk
• Over 102 cm (40 inches) — high risk

Measure at the midpoint between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, after breathing out normally. The tape should be snug but not compressing. A waist-to-height ratio above 0.5 is a simpler rule of thumb that applies regardless of your BMI.

Ethnicity and BMI

The NHS uses lower BMI thresholds for men of South Asian, Chinese, Black African and African-Caribbean family background. The healthy range becomes 18.5 to 22.9, overweight starts at 23 and obesity at 27.5. These adjustments come from evidence that these groups develop type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease at lower BMIs than White European populations. This is NICE guidance, applied by the NHS and by most UK GPs.

What should I do if my BMI is too high or too low?

A BMI in the overweight or obese range is a reason to talk, not to crash. The NHS Weight Loss Plan app is free (12 weeks, no account paywall) and is backed by the NHS Better Health service. A loss of 5 to 10% of your current body weight meaningfully reduces blood pressure, cholesterol and type 2 diabetes risk, even if your BMI stays in the overweight band afterwards.

If your BMI is under 18.5 and you are not trying to be underweight, see your GP. In men, unintentional weight loss is a symptom worth investigating rather than something to ignore.

For your BMI plus a UK-wide percentile estimate by age and sex, use the calculator on the home page.