Is a BMI of exactly 25 unhealthy?

The cut-offs are guidelines, not cliffs. A BMI just over 25 is not meaningfully different from one just under; trends and other measures matter more than a single point.

Which end of the range should I aim for?

Anywhere in the band is considered healthy. Where you feel and function best within it is more useful than chasing a specific number.

Does this range work for athletes?

Not reliably. Muscle is dense, so athletes often exceed a healthy BMI while being lean. Body-fat or waist measures describe them better.

How fast should I move toward my target?

A gradual pace of about 1–2 lb per week is widely recommended as safe and easier to sustain than rapid loss.

How to Find Your Target Weight for a Healthy BMI

Published 2/27/2026 · 3 min read · Health calculators

Sofia Nunes — Health & wellness writer at Allin

Nutrition · Hydration

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In short

A healthy BMI runs from 18.5 to 24.9, which maps to a weight range for any given height. For someone 5 ft 9 in tall, that is roughly 125 to 168 lb. To find your own range, take your height in metres, square it, then multiply by 18.5 and by 24.9 for the low and high ends.

The healthy BMI band of 18.5–24.9 turns into a weight range once you know your height. Here is how to work out yours step by step.

What the healthy BMI band means

The World Health Organization classifies a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 as a healthy weight for most adults. Below 18.5 is underweight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 or more is obesity. Because BMI is weight divided by height squared, a single BMI value corresponds to a band of weights once your height is fixed.

Turning a height into a weight range

Rearranging the formula gives weight = BMI × height². For someone 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) tall, the healthy range is about 125 lb at the low end and 168 lb at the high end. A taller person has a wider band in absolute terms, since the same BMI covers more kilograms as height grows.

Where BMI falls short

BMI is a population screening tool, not a diagnosis. It cannot tell muscle from fat, so a very muscular person may read as overweight while carrying little fat. It also does not capture where fat sits — waist measurement adds useful information. Treat your BMI range as a helpful starting point and discuss any real concern with a clinician.

Worked with our own calculator

Target weight for a BMI calculator

Given

Height (cm): 158 cm
Target BMI: 11

Result

Target weight (kg): 27.46 kg

These figures are produced by the calculator below, not typed in by hand — they are recomputed whenever the tool changes.

Run it on your own figures →

Frequently asked questions

Is a BMI of exactly 25 unhealthy?: The cut-offs are guidelines, not cliffs. A BMI just over 25 is not meaningfully different from one just under; trends and other measures matter more than a single point.
Which end of the range should I aim for?: Anywhere in the band is considered healthy. Where you feel and function best within it is more useful than chasing a specific number.
Does this range work for athletes?: Not reliably. Muscle is dense, so athletes often exceed a healthy BMI while being lean. Body-fat or waist measures describe them better.
How fast should I move toward my target?: A gradual pace of about 1–2 lb per week is widely recommended as safe and easier to sustain than rapid loss.

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For general information only — not medical advice; consult a professional.

Sources

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