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At 5'6" and 170 lbs, your BMI is 27.4, placing you in the Overweight category. A BMI of 27.4 falls in the overweight range (25 to 29.9). Modest reductions in weight through diet and exercise can meaningfully improve health outcomes.
27.4
BMI
Overweight
Category
115-154
Healthy range (lbs)
-16 lbs
To healthy high
BMI 27.4: Overweight
| BMI | Category | Weight (lbs) | Your Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight | Below 115 lbs | - |
| 18.5 to 24.9 | Normal | 115 to 154 lbs | Goal range |
| 25.0 to 29.9 | Overweight | 155 to 185 lbs | You are here |
| 30.0+ | Obese | Above 185 lbs | - |
Your BMI of 27.4 puts you in the Overweight category for someone 5'6".
To reach the upper boundary of the healthy range (154 lbs), you would need to lose approximately 16 lbs. A sustainable rate is 0.5 to 1 lb per week, which means roughly 22 weeks at a moderate calorie deficit.
Keep in mind that BMI does not account for muscle mass. Two people at 5'6" and 170 lbs can have very different body compositions. Body fat percentage is a more precise indicator of health risk.
BMI is a useful screening tool but has real limitations. It does not distinguish between muscle and fat, so muscular athletes often show elevated BMI despite low body fat. It also does not account for where fat is stored. Waist-to-height ratio and body fat percentage are more precise measures. Use BMI as a starting point, not a definitive health verdict.
For someone 5'6", the healthy weight range based on BMI is 115 to 154 lbs. At 115 lbs, BMI is 18.5 (lower boundary of healthy). At 154 lbs, BMI is 24.9 (upper boundary of healthy). Below 115 lbs is underweight; above 154 lbs is overweight.
BMI only uses height and weight. Body fat percentage measures actual fat tissue as a proportion of total weight, making it more precise for body composition assessment. Two people with the same BMI of 27.4 can have very different body fat percentages depending on muscle mass. Athletes often have BMI values above 25 while maintaining low body fat. Use body fat percentage to set specific fitness goals.
A BMI of 27.4 at 5'6" places you in the Overweight category. BMI (Body Mass Index) is calculated by dividing weight in pounds by height in inches squared, then multiplying by 703. The healthy range is 18.5 to 24.9, which translates to 115 to 154 lbs for someone 5'6".
To reach low end (115 lbs)
55 lbs to lose
To reach high end (154 lbs)
16 lbs to lose
BMI tells you where you are. FitCommit shows you what to do about it. AI body scanning estimates your body fat percentage and lean mass. Food camera scanning tracks your nutrition automatically. Free 7-day trial.
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