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I'm 74 inches tall. According to the Body Mass Index tables below, the maximum I can weigh without being classified "overweight" is 194 lbs.

I burst through the 194 barrier decisively around 1998 or so, peaking at 215 pounds in February 1999. I was eating Japanese candy like I thought Tokyo might be wiped out by an Unexpected Confectionary Tsunami.


[Note added 10 Sep 2002] I've given up the candy, and have fought my way back down to 194 again.

Two Driver License* Photos
* That's what it says on them: "Driver License." And to think I've been calling it a "Driver's License!"

2 Sep 1987, Age 25
Sexy Grad Student
180 lbs		 20 Nov 1998, Age 37
Airbrushed Fat Guy
215 lbs

Thane's Weight & Fitness Log

Weight at Selected Months with Estimate of # of Miles I Ran that Month

Age Month Weight Miles BMI
19 Jan 1981 165 20 21.2
23 Jan 1985 175 20 22.5
28 Apr 1990 180 10 23.1
31 Aug 1993 180 18 23.1
33 Jul 1995 177 34 22.7
35 Jul 1997 195 5 25.0
37 Feb 1999 214 0 27.5
37 Oct 1999 202 5 25.9
39 Apr 2001 206 10 26.4
39 Oct 2001 201 35 25.8
40 Feb 2002 195 28 25.0
41 Feb 2003 193 40 24.8


Body Mass Index (BMI)

Body mass index, or BMI, is a new term to most people. However, it is the measurement of choice for many physicians and researchers studying obesity. BMI uses a mathematical formula that takes into account both a person's height and weight. BMI equals a person's weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. (BMI=kg/m2).

Risk of Associated Disease According to BMI and Waist Size

BMI   Waist less than or equal to
40 in. (men) or
35 in. (women)		 Waist greater than
40 in. (men) or
35 in. (women)
18.5 or less Underweight -- N/A
18.5 - 24.9 Normal -- N/A
25.0 - 29.9 Overweight Increased High
30.0 - 34.9 Obese High Very High
35.0 - 39.9 Obese Very High Very High
40 or greater Extremely Obese Extremely High Extremely High


Determining Your Body Mass Index

The table below has already done the math and metric conversions. To use the table, find the appropriate height in the left-hand column. Move across the row to the given weight. The number at the top of the column is the BMI for that height and weight. Or use the web-based BMI calculator below.

BMI
(kg/m2)		 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 35 40
Height
(in.)		 Weight (lb.)
58 91 96 100 105 110 115 119 124 129 134 138 143 167 191
59 94 99 104 109 114 119 124 128 133 138 143 148 173 198
60 97 102 107 112 118 123 128 133 138 143 148 153 179 204
61 100 106 111 116 122 127 132 137 143 148 153 158 185 211
62 104 109 115 120 126 131 136 142 147 153 158 164 191 218
63 107 113 118 124 130 135 141 146 152 158 163 169 197 225
64 110 116 122 128 134 140 145 151 157 163 169 174 204 232
65 114 120 126 132 138 144 150 156 162 168 174 180 210 240
66 118 124 130 136 142 148 155 161 167 173 179 186 216 247
67 121 127 134 140 146 153 159 166 172 178 185 191 223 255
68 125 131 138 144 151 158 164 171 177 184 190 197 230 262
69 128 135 142 149 155 162 169 176 182 189 196 203 236 270
70 132 139 146 153 160 167 174 181 188 195 202 207 243 278
71 136 143 150 157 165 172 179 186 193 200 208 215 250 286
72 140 147 154 162 169 177 184 191 199 206 213 221 258 294
73 144 151 159 166 174 182 189 197 204 212 219 227 265 302
74 148 155 163 171 179 186 194 202 210 218 225 233 272 311
75 152 160 168 176 184 192 200 208 216 224 232 240 279 319
76 156 164 172 180 189 197 205 213 221 230 238 246 287 328
Body weight in pounds according to height and body mass index.

Adapted from Bray, G.A., Gray, D.S.,
Obesity, Part I, Pathogenesis, West J. Med. 1988: 149: 429-41.


Web-based BMI Calculator
Select your height in feet and inches
Enter your weight in pounds



Proportion of US Population that is Overweight, 1990-2000

If you're "Overweight" according to the BMI calculation, you're not alone. At least 1/3 of the population is as beefy as you are, or considerably beefier (ie, they're not overweight, they're obese). There's some data on obesity at the end of this page.

 Nationwide
Year:Median %
# States
199033.1
45
199133.6
48
199234.6
49
199335.3
50
199435.4
50
199535.5
50
199635.4
52
199736.3
52
199836.3
52
199936.8
52
200036.7
52


Some Data on Obesity

Characteristics

  Percent Obese
BRFSS data by year:
1991 1995 1998 1999 2000
Total 12.0 15.3 17.9 18.9 19.8
Gender          
Men 11.7 15.6 17.7 19.1 20.2
Women 12.2 15.0 18.1 18.6 19.4
Age groups          
18-29 7.1 10.1 12.1 12.1 13.5
30-39 11.3 14.4 16.9 18.6 20.2
40-49 15.8 17.9 21.2 22.4 22.9
50-59 16.1 21.6 23.8 24.2 25.6
60-69 14.7 19.4 21.3 22.3 22.9
>70 11.4 12.1 14.6 16.1 15.5
Race, ethnicity          
White, non Hispanic 11.3 14.5 16.6 17.7 18.5
Black, non Hispanic 19.3 22.6 26.9 27.3 29.3
Hispanic 11.6 16.8 20.8 21.5 23.4
Other 7.3 9.6 11.9 12.4 12.0
Educational Level          
Less than
 High School		 16.5 20.1 24.1 25.3 26.1
High school degree 13.3 16.7 19.4 20.6 21.7
Some college 10.7 15.1 17.8 18.1 19.5
College or above 8.0 11.0 13.1 14.3 15.2
Smoking status          
Never smoked 12.0 15.2 17.9 19.0 19.9
Ex-smoker 14.0 17.9 20.9 21.5 22.7
Current smoker 9.9 12.3 14.8 15.7 16.3