Overweight Calculator

Welcome to the overweight calculator, which you may also use as an obesity calculator. It is an extremely simple tool to calculate your BMI and ponderal index. If you ask yourself, "Am I overweight?" the calculator will also tell you whether you are underweight, within a normal weight range, overweight, or obese.

Keep reading to discover more! In this article, we will answer the following questions:

• What is the BMI of an overweight person?
• What percent of Americans are overweight?
• What is the ICD-10 code for overweight?
• And much more!

We try our best to make our Omni Calculators as precise and reliable as possible. However, this tool can never replace a professional doctor's assessment. If any health condition bothers you, consult a physician.

Let's start from the beginning, shall we? What is the definition of overweight? As you can probably understand from the word itself, overweight is used to describe someone who weighs more than the normal range. Two of the main indicators of body mass are the BMI (body mass index) and the ponderal index (PI).

BMI

You have probably heard about the body mass index (BMI). It is calculated by dividing the weight by the square of the height. The former must be expressed in kilograms, while the latter, in meters.

BMI = weight [kg] / (height [m])²

So, what is considered overweight? The BMI of an overweight person is between 25 and 30, while over 30, we have the obesity categories.

The formula is easy enough to calculate the BMI yourself, but when conversions come into play, it's easier to use our overweight calculator.

Ponderal index (PI)

A less common way to determine whether someone is overweight is the ponderal index, often abbreviated in PI. According to a 2019 study by D. Zaniqueli, the ponderal index might arguably be a better indicator of body mass than BMI for children and adolescents.

The ponderal index formula is different for children and adults.

• Adults, adolescents, and children over the age of 6:

  Divide the weight in kilograms by the cube of the height in meters.

  PI = weight [kg] / (height [m])³

• Infants and children up to the age of 6:

  Multiply the weight in grams by 100, then divide by the cube of the height in centimeters (or length in the case of newborns).

  PI = weight [g] × 100 / (height [cm])³

According to the WHO, the number of obese adults worldwide rose from 200 million to 300 million between 1995 and 2000. The data is concerning, as “obesity poses a major risk for serious diet-related noncommunicable diseases, including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of cancer”.

These and other conditions caused by obesity reduce our quality of life.

Here are some facts and numbers about the percentage of overweight in the USA reported by Healthline:

• As of 2022, obesity rates in all 50 US states rose to over 20% (CDC).

• The South and the Midwest had higher obesity rates than the rest of the country (over 30%).

• Around 42% of American adults are thought to have obesity, while 30.7% are overweight (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).

• Over 14.7 million children (20%) have obesity (CDC).

What percent of Americans are overweight?

According to a ranking by the World Obesity Federation, the USA ranks 7^th (41.64%). In the first three places, we have the American Samoa (70.29%), Nauru (69.65%), and Tokelau (67.05%). At the end of the ranking, we find Rwanda (1.84%), West Timor (1.58%), and Ethiopia (1.1%).

For comparison with other developed countries, France is 143^rd (10.18%), Canada is 50^th (28.16%), and Japan is 161^st (7.63%).

Our obesity calculator is as simple as it can get!

If you are calculating the BMI and ponderal index for an adult, proceed as follows:

1. Input the weight. Remember to choose the right unit before inserting your data. You can do it by clicking on the unit field, which will open a drop-down menu.

   In this example, we will input 150 lb (68.04 kg).

2. Input the height. Let's take 5.4 ft (1.646 m)

3. That's all! The overweight calculator will tell you your BMI and ponderal index, 25.1 and 15.3, respectively.

   The tool will also let you know which categories your result falls in. In this case, both results fall into the overweight category.

If the calculation concerns a child or adolescent up to the age of 19, there are some additional features!

1. Select the checkbox at the top of the calculator.

2. Select the child or adolescent's sex.

3. Insert their weight and height, just like you would with an adult.

   Let's take 26 lb (11.8 kg) and 2.6 ft (79.25 cm). The BMI will be displayed straight away: it is equal to 18.8, which is in the healthy weight category.

4. Because the formula differs based on age, you will have to insert the child or adolescent's age to see their ponderal index. The measurements we have input are typical of a 2- or 3-year-old. Let's insert 2.

   Now we know that this child's ponderal index is equal to 2.4. This is in the normal weight category.

5. Upon inserting the age, you will also be able to see how their BMI compares to the rest of the population their age in terms of percentiles.

   In our example, the child is placed between the 90^th and 95^th percentile.

Now you know how to use the overweight calculator. What are you waiting for? Try it!