Date Source Sex Criteria used Label applied Reference 1942 Metropolitan Life M, F Weight-for-height tables Ideal weight 12, 13 1959 Metropolitan Life M, F Weight-for-height tables Desirable weight 1 1980 Dietary Guidelines2,3 (1st ed) Weight-for-height tables Ideal, normal, suggested, acceptable weight 23 M (<25–26 kg/m2)1 F (<24–25 kg/m2)1 1983 Metropolitan Life M, F Weight-for-height tables Height and weight tables 2 1984 Health United States4 M 28.0 kg/m2 Overweight 24 F 35.0 kg/m1.5 1985 NIH Consensus Development Panel5 M 27.8 kg/m2 Overweight, obesity 25, 26 F 27.3 kg/m2 1985 Dietary Guidelines2,3 (2nd ed) Weight-for-height tables Desirable weight 27 M, F (<25.0 kg/m2)1 1985 Health United States4 M 27.8 kg/m2 Overweight 28 F 27.3 kg/m2 1987 Najjar et al4 M 27.8 kg/m2 Overweight 29 F 27.3 kg/m2 M 31.1 kg/m2 Severe overweight F 32.3 kg/m2 1989 Committee on Diet and Health M, F 19–24 y 19–24 kg/m2 Desirable BMI 30 M, F 25–34 y 20–25 kg/m2 M, F 35–44 y 21–26 kg/m2 M, F 45–54 y 22–27 kg/m2 M, F 55–65 y 23–28 kg/m2 M, F >65 y 24–29 kg/m2 1990 Dietary Guidelines2,3 (3rd ed) Weight-for-height tables Unhealthy weight 30, 31 M, F (19–34 y) (25.0 kg/m2)1 M, F (35 y) (27.0 kg/m2)1 1990 Healthy People 20003 M 27.8 kg/m2 Overweight 32 F 27.3 kg/m2 1995 Dietary Guidelines2,3 (4th ed) M, F Weight-for-height chart 33 (<25.0 kg/m2)1 Healthy weight (25.0–28.9 kg/m2)1 Moderate overweight (29.0 kg/m2)1 Severe overweight 1997 World Health Organization M, F <18.5 kg/m2 Underweight 34, 35 Consultation on Obesity 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 Normal weight 25.0 kg/m2 Overweight 25.0–29.9 kg/m2 Preobese 30.0–34.9 kg/m2 Class 1 obese 35.0–39.9 kg/m2 Class 2 obese 40.0 kg/m2 Class 3 obese 1998 NHLBI Expert Panel7 M, F <18.5 kg/m2 Underweight 36 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 Normal weight 25.0–29.9 kg/m2 Overweight 30.0–34.9 kg/m2 Obesity 1 35.0–39.9 kg/m2 Obesity 2 40 kg/m2 Extreme obesity 1999 Health United States6 M, F 19.0–24.9 kg/m2 Healthy weight 37 25.0 kg/m2 Overweight 30.0 kg/m2 Obese 2000 Healthy People 20103 M, F 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 Healthy weight 38 30.0 kg/m2 Obese 2000 Dietary Guidelines2,3 (5th ed) M, F 18.5–25.0 kg/m2 Healthy weight 39 25.0–29.9 kg/m2 Overweight 30.0 kg/m2 Obese 1Approximate BMI equivalents that correspond to weight-for-height table or chart data. 2–7Federal agency using the criteria: 2US Department of Agriculture, 3Department of Health and Human Services, 4National Center for Health Statistics, 5National Institutes of Health (NIH), 6National Center for Health Statistics/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/NIH.

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