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Doctors consider a moderate BMI for women to be 18.5–24.9. A BMI of 30 or above may indicate obesity. BMI measurements can help someone understand whether they are underweight or overweight. However, BMI for people assigned female at birth has some limitations, as it does not measure body fat specifically. In this article, we provide a BMI calculator, discuss the pros and cons of BMI measurements, and explain some other methods that people assigned female at birth may find useful for keeping track of their health. A note about sex and gender Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms, “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more. BMI calculator Share on PinterestWhile BMI can act as a general indicator of health, it does not measure body fat.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines BMI as “a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters.” A person can use this calculator to determine their BMI: BMI ranges for women Once someone knows their BMI, they can find out where their measurement falls in the following standard weight categories from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:BMIWeight standardBelow 18.5Underweight18.5–24.9Normal weight25.0–29.9Overweight30.0 and higherObese Benefits of BMI As a measurement, BMI is easy and inexpensive to measure. BMI is a useful tool for understanding where someone’s weight falls on the scale from underweight to overweight. It can also help people maintain a moderate weight, which can reduce their risk for:type 2 diabetesosteoarthritiscardiovascular diseasestrokesome forms of cancer Drawbacks of BMI While it correlates with body fat levels, BMI does not distinguish between the weight that comes from fat, muscle, and bone. As such, BMI alone may be a misleading measurement of someone’s overall health. This is particularly true for people who are very muscular, peri- or postmenopausal, or have abdominal fat but are otherwise a moderate weight. BMI and muscle Muscle tissue is denser than fat tissue. This means that people with high levels of muscle may have a high body weight that classifies them as being overweight or having obesity, even if they have a low body fat percentage. People with high levels of muscle mass and a high BMI result typically have a lower risk of death than those with a high BMI score and lower muscle mass. However, the limitation of BMI to account for this may lead to complications in treatment and affect a person’s insurance. BMI and body fat A high body fat percentage has an adverse effect on health. People with a moderate BMI but a high percentage of body fat may have a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors that increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. These risk factors include high blood pressure, abdominal obesity and high fasting glucose levels. BMI and age Additionally, the proportion of muscle, fat, and bone in the body typically changes as people age. The average female loses roughly 13 pounds of muscle and bone between the ages of 25 and 65, while belly fat increases to four times its previous amount. As a result, BMI calculations may be inaccurate for postmenopausal women, who may have high body fat percentages but maintain moderate BMI. In severe cases, this may lead a person to miss out on preventive treatments for obesity-related conditions. Learn more about the limitations of using BMI here. Other methods for measuring weight In addition to BMI, people assigned female at birth can use other methods to understand their weight, body composition, and risk for certain diseases. Waist circumference This method measures belly fat, which is a key indicator of someone’s risk for weight-related disease. People can measure the circumference of their waist using a soft tape measure. A Cameroonian population study found that waist circumference is the best predictor of screen-detected diabetes. Waist-to-hip ratio WHR This method also measures abdominal fat and can be a strong indicator of future health risks. However, some researchers claim that taking a person’s waist and hip circumference into consideration as separate figures provides a better assessment of health risk. A person can calculate their WHR by dividing their waist measurement by the circumference of their hips. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that a WHR of 0.85 or below for women means that they have a low risk for weight-related disease. Diagnostic methods Diagnostic tests that a doctor may perform include:Densitometry: This involves a doctor measuring someone’s body weight while they are in water. The test compares their weight measurements on land to their measurements in water to calculate body fat percentage. Densitometry generally only takes place in a research setting.Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry: X-rays move through fat, muscle, and bone at different rates, so this approach passes two low-level X-rays through the body to calculate relative percentages.Bioelectrical impedance (BIA): BIA estimates someone’s body fat percentage by passing a low-level electric current through the body.Isotope dilution: In this test, a person drinks water that contains isotopes and then provides samples of bodily fluids. These samples give a doctor information on the individual’s body composition.Skinfold measurements: During this test, a doctor will pinch folds of skin and measure their thickness. They will often repeat this at several sites on the body. Learn more about calculating WHR and what the results mean. Summary BMI is one of the tools that individuals can use to determine a person’s risk of certain diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. However, BMI is an outdated measurement of overall health and does not take into account multiple physical variables such as muscle mass, age, and menopausal status. Body fat percentage, bone density, and muscle mass can all change over time. As BMI does not measure body fat specifically, it may not provide someone with all the information that they need about their risk for these diseases. Last medically reviewed on April 11, 2022MenopauseObesity / Weight Loss / FitnessWomen's Health / Gynecology 18 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.About adult BMI. (2021).https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.htmlAbramowitz, M. K., et al. (2018). Muscle mass, BMI, and mortality among adults in the United States: A population-based cohort study.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5894968/Assessing your weight. (2020).https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/index.htmlBanack, H. R., et al. (2018). Is BMI a valid indicator of obesity in post-menopausal women?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5821529/BMI tools. (n.d.).https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/bmitools.htmBody mass index table. (n.d.).https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmi_tbl.pdfBonikowske, A. R., et al. (2019). Fat mass index better identifies metabolic syndrome: Insights from patients in early outpatient cardiac rehabilitation.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6947316/Burton, R. F. (2020). The waist-hip ratio: a flawed index [abstract].https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32892641/Calculate your body mass index. (n.d.).https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htmHealth effects of overweight and obesity. (2022).https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html Health risks of being overweight. (2018).https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/health-risks-overweightIbrahim, Q., et al. (2019). Measurement of visceral fat, abdominal circumference and waist-hip ratio to predict health risk in males and females [abstract].https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31930817/Kasper, A. M., et al. (2021). Come back skinfolds, all is forgiven: A narrative review of the efficacy of common body composition methods in applied sports practice.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8065383/Mbanya, V. N., et al. (2015). Body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip-ratio and waist-height-ratio: which is the better discriminator of prevalent screen-detected diabetes in a Cameroonian population?https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25700625/Ross, R., et al. (2020). Waist circumference as a vital sign in clinical practice: A consensus statement from the IAS and ICCR Working Group on Visceral Obesity.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7027970/Rubin, R. (2018). Postmenopausal women with a "normal" BMI might be overweight or even obese.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2674709Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: Report of a WHO expert consultation. (2008).http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/44583/1/9789241501491_eng.pdfWhat is then body mass index (BMI)? (2019).https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/what-is-the-body-mass-index-bmi/FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Jennifer Mathe, MS, CSCS, NATA-BOC — By Danielle Dresden — Updated on April 11, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageHow much should I weigh for my height and age? What is a person’s ideal weight, and how do height, age, and other factors affect it? Find out more and use our tools to get a better idea of weight…READ MOREWhat is the average weight for women?Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O. 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