7
70 -100 <18 % 18 - 23 % 23.1- 28 % >28.1 %
70-100 <23 % 23 - 28 % 28.1- 33 % >33.1 %
Athletes will usually have lower values. Depending on the sport per formed, the training intensity and the
physical constitution, the results may still be below the stated stand ard values. Please note, however, that
there may be a health risk in the case of extremely low values.
Body weight / Body mass index
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number often used to evaluate body composition. The number is calcu-
lated from body weight and height, the formula is “BMI = body weight : height
2
. The measurement unit for
BMI is [kg/m
2
].
Men < 20 years
Women < 20 years
Age Under-
weight
Normal
weight
Over-
weight
Age Under-
weight
Normal
weight
Over-
weight
10
12.7 – 14.8 14.9 –18.4
18.5 – 26.1
10
12.7 – 14.7 14.8 –18.9
19.0 – 28.4
11
13.0 – 15.2 15.3 –19.1
19.2 – 28.0
11
13.0 – 15.2 15.3 –19.8
19.9 – 30.2
12
13.3 – 15.7 15.8 –19.8
19.9 – 30.0
12
13.3 – 15.9 16.0 – 20.7
20.8 – 31.9
13
13.7 – 16.3 16.4 – 20.7
20.8 – 31.7
13
13.7 – 16.5 16.6 – 21.7
21.8 – 33.4
14
14.2 – 16.9 17.0 – 21.7
21.8 – 33.1
14
14.2 – 17.1 17.2 – 22.6
22.7 – 34.7
15
14.6 – 17.5 17.6 – 22.6
22.7 – 34.1
15
14.6 – 17.7 17.8 – 23.4
23.5 – 35.5
16
15.0 – 18.1 18.2 – 23.4
23.5 – 34.8
16
15.0 – 18.1 18.2 – 24.0
24.1 – 36.1
17
15.3 – 18.7 18.8 – 24.2
24.3 – 35.2
17
15.3 – 18.3 18.4 – 24.4
24.5 – 36.3
18
15.6 – 19.1 19.2 – 24.8
24.9 – 35.4
18
15.6 – 18.5 18.6 – 24.7
24.8 – 36.3
19
15.8 – 19.5 19.6 – 25.3
25.4 – 35.5
19
15.8 – 18.6 18.7 – 24.9
25.0 – 36.2
Men / Women ≥ 20 years
Age Under-
weight
Normal
weight
Over-
weight
≥ 20 15.9 – 18.4 18.5 – 24.9
25.0 – 40.0
Source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2007;85:660-7; Adapted from WHO 1995, WHO 2000 and WHO 2004.
Note that with very muscular physiques such as bodybuilders, the BMI result will indicate overweight since
no account is taken for well above average muscle mass.
Body water
According to the World Health Organization (WHO 2001), the percentage of body water should normally lie
within the following ranges:
Women: 50 – 55 %
Men:
60 – 65 %
Children: 65 –75 %
Body fat contains relatively little water. Therefore people with a high body fat percentage have body water
percentages below the recommended values. With endurance athletes, however, the recommended values
could be exceeded due to low fat percentages and high muscle percentage.
This scale is unsuitable for measuring body water in order to draw medical conclusions concerning age-re-
lated water retention, for example. If necessary ask your physician. Basically, a high body water percentage
should be the aim.
Muscle percentage
As the percentage of muscle differs from individual to individual, there are no generally valid guidelines.
Results in Relation to Time
NOTE:
