Body Weight Summary Do you know if your current weight is healthy? “Underweight”, “normal”, “overweight”, and “obese” are all labels for ranges of weight. Obese and overweight mean that your weight is greater than it should be for your health. Underweight means that it is lower than it should be for your health. Your healthy body weight depends on your sex and height. For children, it also depends on your age. A sudden, unexpected change in weight can be a sign of a medical problem. Causes for sudden weight loss can include Thyroid problems Cancer Infectious diseases Digestive diseases Certain medicines Sudden weight gain can be due to medicines, thyroid problems, heart failure, and kidney disease. Good nutrition and exercise can help in losing weight. Eating extra calories within a well-balanced diet and treating any underlying medical problems can help to add weight. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Specifics About BMI for Adults Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Do You Know the Health Risks of Being Overweight? National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Preventing Weight Gain Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Unexplained Weight Loss Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research What Are Overweight and Obesity? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Children About BMI for Children and Teens Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Is My Child’s Appetite Normal? Food and Nutrition Service MedlinePlus: Birth Weight National Library of Medicine Overweight and Obesity (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Percentage of Children with a Healthy Weight Department of Health and Human Services Poor Weight Gain in Infants and Children (Beyond the Basics) UpToDate What “Being Overweight” Means Nemours Foundation Your Child’s Weight Nemours Foundation Related Issues Adult Obesity Causes & Consequences Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Antidepressants and Weight Gain Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Body Image Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Can Beta Blockers Cause Weight Gain? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Normal Weight Obesity: A Hidden Health Risk? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Thyroid and Weight American Thyroid Association World Around You: Use What You Have to Stay Healthy and Fit National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Start Here Assessing Your Weight Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Array Body mass index Growth chart Overweight Weight gain – unintentional Weight loss – unintentional Health Check Tools Body Weight Planner National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Calculate Your Body Mass Index National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Weight Loss DSHI Systems Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Body Mass Index National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Body Weight National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Body Weight Changes National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Obesity National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Thinness National Institutes of Health Statistics and Research FastStats: Obesity and Overweight National Center for Health Statistics Overweight and Obesity Statistics National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Percentage of Adults with a Healthy Weight Department of Health and Human Services Find an Expert Find a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Teenagers Healthy Weight Gain for Teens: A Guide for Parents Children’s Hospital Boston What’s the Right Weight for My Height? Nemours Foundation Seniors Healthy Weights for Healthy Older Adults Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Journal Articles Body Weight Latest News More of World’s People Are Now Obese Than Underweight HealthDay Gestational Diabetes May Lead to More Body Fat on Babies HealthDay Underweight or Obese Women Who Drink and Smoke May Have Higher Asthma Risk HealthDay A Little Excess Weight May Boost Colon Cancer Survival HealthDay Genes Might Help Shield Some Black Men from Obesity HealthDay Building Muscle Could Boost the Body’s Most Important Muscle HealthDay Stay Lean, Live Longer HealthDay Biking or Walking to Work Helps Keep You Fit HealthDay