BMI for a 5'4" 100 lb male or female

BMI is a quick and easy measurement to find out if you're a healthy weight. While it has its flaws, it can be quite useful if you're aware of your own body composition and use it in conjunction with other metrics for personal health.

The BMI for a 5'4" 100 lb male or female is 17.2.

According to the CDC, this would be considered underweight for all adults age 20 and older. A BMI is classified as underweight if it's under 18.5.

What does it mean to be underweight? Read on to find out more or calculate another BMI.

Learn more about what it means to be underweight

Being underweight can be caused by various factors, including genetics, metabolism, inadequate calorie intake, or certain medical conditions. For some people, being underweight may be a natural body type, while for others it may indicate underlying health concerns.

One of the main concerns with being underweight is nutritional deficiencies. Inadequate calorie intake can lead to insufficient intake of essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrates).

People who are underweight may also experience challenges with energy levels and physical stamina. Insufficient body fat and muscle mass can contribute to reduced energy stores, making it harder to engage in physical activities and maintain a healthy level of fitness.

Being underweight can impact hormonal balance as well. Even though most people don’t want to be fat, fat cells play a crucial role in hormone production and regulation. Inadequate body fat can disrupt hormonal levels, potentially leading to irregular menstrual cycles in women and fertility issues.

Psychologically, being underweight can have a significant impact on one's self-esteem and body image. Society often idealizes a certain body shape, and individuals who fall outside these standards may experience body dissatisfaction or even develop eating disorders. Of course, eating disorders can also cause someone to be underweight.

If you’re concerned about being underweight, it’s important to talk to your primary care physician or another medical professional. They can help determine the underlying causes, assess your nutritional needs, and develop a plan to achieve a healthy weight in a sustainable manner.

Important notes about BMI

While BMI is useful for categorizing someone's weight status, it isn't able to take into account someone's unique body composition, muscle mass, or overall metabolic health. For example, athletes and bodybuilders with high muscle mass may be classified as overweight or even obese based on their BMI despite being in great shape and having a low body fat percentage. Similarly, people with osteoporosis could have lower BMIs due to decreased bone density.

These are extreme examples, but they do illustrate the limitations of using BMI only to evaluate your body weight. That's why alternative measures such as waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, and body fat percentage can often provide a more accurate assessment of someone's health.

Of course, there are benefits to BMI: it's a quick, easy, and free way to get a rough idea of what kind of shape you're in, and you can track it over time to identify changes. And if you're not a bodybuilder or don't have health issue that could skew your BMI, it's a pretty good indicator of your weight status.

What's the formula for calculating BMI?

The formula for calculating BMI is weight (lb) / [height (in)]² x 703. In the case of someone who is 5'4" and 100 lbs, the formula would be [100 / 64²] x 703, with a result of 17.2.

What's a healthy weight for someone who is 5'4"?

BMI chart for 5'4" and 85 - 115 lbs

BMI for 5'4" and 100.1 - 100.9 lbs

Sources

• About Adult BMI - CDC

Disclaimer

The information on this page is intended to be an educational reference and is not to be taken as medical advice. If you think you're having a hypertensive or hypotensive emergency, or if you're having any kind of medical emergency, please call 911 immediately.