The BMI calculator is no longer just for women. Men are also increasingly focusing on the desire for a healthy, well-defined body and the ideal BMI.
If you want to know whether you are over-, under- or normal weight, the BMI calculator will give you a starting point.
Do you already know your BMI? Perfect. In this article, we will explain not only how to calculate BMI for men, but also what the ideal BMI range is for men, how you should evaluate your value and what it says about your diet.
We also give you tips on how to lose or gain weight in a healthy way.
How do I calculate BMI for men?
The formula for calculating body mass index (BMI for short) is:
BMI = body weight (kg) / height (m)²
and is also used by the so-called World Health Organization (WHO for short).
This formula applies equally to men and women. However, gender plays an important role in the evaluation. Men have more muscle mass, so the result limits are slightly higher for them.
Our BMI calculator is also based on this classic formula, but takes gender into account from the outset. Important: The BMI calculator is only valid for adults. Different reference values apply to adolescents and children.
What is the ideal BMI for men?
The recommended ideal BMI for men is between 18.5 and 24.9. However, these values only reflect an average. They should only be used as an initial weight estimate. It is also important to consider the ratio of muscle mass to body fat – in other words, your body composition.
Make sure you eat a healthy diet, even if your result is in this range according to the BMI formula. More details about BMI for women.
What should be the BMI for men? And is my weight okay?
Is your BMI value outside the recommended values? Don't worry – it doesn't mean that your weight is automatically unhealthy. Factors such as your muscle percentage have not yet been taken into account.
Therefore, we think that it is generally more important to rely on how you feel in your own body.
However, if you have a value that classifies you as obese (> 30) or underweight (< 18.5), we advise you to have the type of your excess or insufficient weight analyzed by a nutrition expert.
Is the BMI also age-dependent?
To get a better idea of your personal BMI, you should also take your age into account. Because the metabolism slows down with age, a slight increase in weight is perfectly natural.
Body weight can also decrease with advancing age, as muscle mass is increasingly reduced.
BMI values: ideal weight table for men by age
The following table shows you the ideal BMI values – i.e. healthy weight – for men depending on age.
| Age | BMI value |
| 16 | 19-24 |
| 17-18 | 20-25 |
| 19-24 | 21-26 |
| 25-34 | 22-27 |
| 35-54 | 23-28 |
| 55-64 | 24-29 |
| 65-90 | 25-30 |
How accurate is the BMI?
The BMI calculator only provides a rough estimate. It does not take into account the individual composition of body mass from water, fat and muscle tissue.
Since muscles are heavier than adipose tissue, an increased BMI value can result in athletes. The BMI calculator could thus wrongly classify a healthy, well-trained man as overweight.
We therefore advise you to also take into account your body fat percentage and fat distribution. You should also consider the proportions of your build, such as your waist circumference and waist-hip ratio.
By the way: Another method for determining normal weight that works with body weight and height is the Broca index – but it is less accurate than the BMI in some areas (sex, etc.). Another calculation option is the so-called ponderal index, which is similar to the BMI in some ways.
What can I do to normalize my BMI value?
Have you used the BMI calculator to determine your BMI, found that you have a high BMI and are unhappy with your result?
Based on your ideal weight calculator result, you can redefine your nutrition and health goals. The following tips will help you:
Lose weight
In principle, it makes no sense to achieve rapid weight loss with crash diets and excessive exercise. This is unhealthy and usually leads to the famous yo-yo effect. People who are overweight or obese are then left feeling frustrated.
Only a balanced diet combined with healthy exercise will help you lose weight in the long term and achieve your ideal weight. And, above all, it will help prevent cardiovascular diseases, which are a common consequence of being overweight. So, getting enough physical activity is essential!
Maybe you're only slightly overweight? You can only lose weight healthily if you give your body what it needs. It is important to include as many nutrients as possible. This also includes carbohydrates and dietary fiber.
So, in addition to lots of fruit and vegetables, it's best to eat foods like oats. Their long-chain carbohydrates and high fiber content not only keep you full longer, but also get your metabolism going.
Berries like cranberries or lingonberries provide an extra portion of vitamins.
Gaining weight
If you want to gain weight for a healthier body image, the magic words are again “balanced nutrition” and “sufficient exercise” – only in this way can you achieve and maintain your ideal weight.
In practice, this means: building muscle and largely avoiding burgers, chips and pizza, even if they contain a lot of calories. It's better to focus on naturally high-calorie foods such as avocados or cashew nuts. This is how you achieve your desired weight.
They contain healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which stimulate your testosterone production and thus help you build muscle. Do you know your daily calorie requirement? Use the free calorie calculator from Verival.
What role does nutrition play?
A BMI that is too high or too low can indicate an unhealthy diet. An unhealthy diet can lead to diabetes, digestive problems, food allergies, gout, arthritis, cancer and autoimmune diseases, for example.
However, nutrition not only affects our physical health but also our mental health. Anyone who has ever reacted irritably or been unable to concentrate because of hunger can confirm this.
Therefore, make sure you eat a balanced diet that gives you sufficient strength, health and a good portion of cheerfulness for the day and you will also achieve your optimal weight.
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Your body will benefit from this in the long term. Your blood sugar level will be kept constant, your intestines, body and mind will be stimulated. Nutrition experts also advise eating about 50 g of healthy flakes a day. How you enjoy your oats is, of course, up to you.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal weight for men?
Here is a brief overview of the ideal BMI values – i.e. healthy weight – for men depending on their age: Age 16 BMI 19-24, Age 17-18 BMI 20-25, Age 19-24 BMI 21-26, Age 25-34 BMI 22-27, Age 35-54 BMI 23-28, Age 55-64 BMI 24- 29, age 65 - 90 BMI 25 - 30. The BMI calculator only provides a rough estimate. It does not take into account the individual composition of body mass from water, fat and muscle tissue. Since muscles are heavier than fat tissue, an increased BMI value can result in athletes. The BMI calculator could thus wrongly classify a healthy, well-trained man as overweight. Therefore, we advise you to also consider the body fat percentage and fat distribution.
What is a good BMI for men?
The recommended BMI for men aged 35 to 64 years is between 23 and 29. It is important to consider the exact age and the general constitution. The BMI calculator only provides a rough initial estimate. It does not take into account the individual composition of body mass from water, fat and muscle tissue. Since muscle is heavier than fat tissue, an increased BMI value can result for an athlete. The BMI calculator could thus erroneously classify a healthy, well-trained man as overweight. Therefore, we advise you to also take into account the body fat percentage and fat distribution.
What is the appropriate weight for a person's height and age?
The body mass index takes into account the weight in relation to height but also to age. The ideal BMI values for men according to the WHO are: Age 16 BMI 19-24, Age 17-18 BMI 20-25, Age 19-24 BMI 21-26, Age 25-34 BMI 22-27, Age 35-54 BMI 23-28, Age 55-64 BMI 24- 29, age 65-90 BMI value 25-30. The BMI is calculated using the formula: (body weight in kilograms) divided by (height in meters squared). For example: Simon is 44 years old. He weighs 92 kilograms and is 1. 81 meters tall. 92 : (1.81 x 1.81) = 28.08. Simon has a BMI of 28 and, according to the BMI table, is still in the normal range – albeit at the upper end.
How much should a man who is 1. 80 meters tall weigh?
This question can only be partially answered. At 1.80, the ideal weight is around 72-75 kilograms. However, age is not taken into account at all here. A 20-year-old man who is 1.80 tall is in the normal range at 75 kilograms. An 85-year-old man who is 1.80 tall is in the normal range at 85 kilograms.
What is a normal weight in old age?
According to the WHO, a normal body mass index in old age is around 24 to 27. However, especially when you are older, one or two pounds more is often better. This is because if you are too light in old age, it can quickly become a problem if you become ill and your body has no reserves.
Are you overweight if you weigh 90 kilograms?
A man who is 1. 90 m tall and weighs 90 kilograms is still within the normal weight range. It is also important to consider age here. At 91 kilograms, a young man who is 1. 90 m tall is already on the way to being overweight. With age, the composition of body tissue also changes.
What is my ideal weight?
A 40-year-old man weighing 85 kg and standing 1.85 meters tall has a BMI of 24.83 and, according to the BMI table, which also takes age into account, is within the normal weight range. By using the formula (weight in kg) divided by (height in m squared), you can easily determine your BMI. It is important that you also compare your age in the BMI table in the column with your corresponding age.
