10
To avoid obesity and any accompanying illnesses, you should aim to stabilise or slightly reduce your
weight if your BMI is between 25 and 29.9.
However, if your values lie in the “overweight” category you are recommended to steadily lose
weight if:
- you suffer from existing weight-related illnesses such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes
- you have uneven fat distribution (gaining weight around the stomach – the “apple figure”)
- you suffer from existing diseases that are exacerbated by being overweight
(such as back or joint problems or asthma)
- you are exposed to great psychosocial pressure
Tip:
For children and young people of 5-19 years old, the following guideline values are
classified by the WHO:
Signs for girls:
Age
Severely underweight
Underweight
Normal
Overweight
Obese
5
< 11.7
11.7 – 12.7
12.8 – 17.0
17.1 – 19.2
< 19.2
6
< 11.7
11.7 – 12.7
12.8 – 17.3
17.4 – 19.7
> 19.7
7
< 11.9
11.9 – 12.9
13.0 – 17.7
17.8 – 20.5
> 20.5
8
< 12.1
12.1 – 13.1
13.2 – 18.3
18.4 – 21.4
> 21.4
9
< 12.4
12.4 – 13.4
13.5 – 19.0
19.1 – 22.5
> 22.5
10
< 12.7
12.7 – 13.8
13.9 – 19.8
19.9 – 23.6
> 23.6
11
< 13.1
13.1 -14.3
14.4 – 20.7
20.8 – 24.9
> 24.9
12
< 13.6
13.6 – 14.9
15.0 – 21.7
21.8 – 26.1
> 26.1
13
< 14.0
14.0 – 15.4
15.5 – 22.7
22.8 – 27.2
> 27.2
14
< 14.3
14.3 – 15.8
15.9 – 23.5
23.6 – 28.2
> 28.2
15
< 14.6
14.6 – 16.2
16.3 – 24.1
24.2 – 28.8
> 28.8
16
< 14.7
14.7 – 16.3
16.3 – 25.5
25.6 – 29.3
> 29.3
17
< 14.7
14.7 – 16.4
16.5 – 24.8
24.9 – 29.5
> 29.5
18 - 19
< 14.7
14.7 – 16.5
16.6 – 25.0
25.1 – 29.7
> 29.7
Signs for boys:
Age
Severely underweight
Underweight
Normal
Overweight
Obese
5
< 12.1
12.1 – 13.0
13.1 – 16.7
16.8 – 18.5
> 18.5
6
< 12.2
12.2 – 13.1
13.2 – 17.0
17.1 – 19.0
> 19.0
7
< 12.3
12.3 – 13.3
13.4 – 17.4
17.5 – 19.6
> 19.6
8
< 12.5
12.5 – 13.5
13.6 – 17.9
18.0 – 20.4
> 20.4
9
< 12.8
12.8 – 13.7
13.8 – 18.4
18.5 – 21.3
> 21.3
10
< 13.0
13.0 – 14.0
14.1 – 19.1
19.2 – 22.4
> 22.4
11
< 13.4
13.4 - 14.4
14.5 – 19.9
20.0 – 23.5
> 23.5
12
< 13.8
13.8 – 14.9
15.0 – 20.8
20.9 – 24.7
> 24.7
13
< 14.2
14.2 – 15.4
15.5 – 21.7
21.8 – 25.8
> 25.8
14
< 14.7
14.7 – 16.0
16.1 – 22.6
22.7 – 26.9
> 26.9
15
< 15.1
15.1 – 16.5
16.6 – 23.5
23.6 – 27.8
> 27.8
16
< 15.4
15.4 – 16.9
16.9 – 24.2
24.2 – 28.6
> 28.6
17
< 15.7
15.7 – 17.3
17.4 – 24.9
25.0 – 29.2
> 29.2
18
< 15.8
15.8 – 17.5
17.6 – 25.4
25.5 – 29.7
> 29.7
19
< 15.9
15.9 – 17.6
17.7 – 25.4
25.5 – 29.7
> 29.7
