What's my BMI? Is a 5'3, 278 lbs woman overweight?
At 5 foot 3, 278 lbs is 49.2 BMI and considered obese.
According to the CDC, BMI is a good indicator of weight, for most people. For a woman at 5 foot 3, 278 pounds is a BMI of 49.2, which is considered obese. Of course, this will be different at different heights, so make sure you calculate the BMI for your specific weight, by using our calculator below. Another important thing to keep in mind is that even though at a certain height 278 lbs might be considered overweight or healthy, body composition and body fat percentage also factor in to whether or not this weight is a healthy weight for you.
It's important to understand that BMI is not perfect.
BMI is not a perfect way of measuring body fatness, but it does a pretty good job for most people. Athletes, or particularly muscular people will find that BMI is not specific enough to meet their needs, and it's probably worth looking into something like body fat percentage. BMI just gives us an easy way to quickly understand the ratio between someones height and someones weight, it does not take into account how much fat you are carrying versus muscle.
Try our BMI Calculator to learn everything about your BMI
Know your BMI? Go straight there.
Height and Weight BMI Health Chart for 278 Pounds (lbs)
Check out this table below to visually understand what heights are considered underweight, healthy, overweight and obese at 278 lbs.
Height | Weight Level |
---|---|
4'9" | Obese |
4'10" | Obese |
4'11" | Obese |
5'0" | Obese |
5'1" | Obese |
5'2" | Obese |
5'3" | Obese |
5'4" | Obese |
5'5" | Obese |
5'6" | Obese |
5'7" | Obese |
5'8" | Obese |
5'9" | Obese |
5'10" | Obese |
5'11" | Obese |
6'0" | Obese |
6'1" | Obese |
6'2" | Obese |
6'3" | Obese |
6'4" | Obese |
6'5" | Obese |
6'6" | Obese |
6'7" | Obese |
6'8" | Obese |
6'9" | Overweight |
6'10" | Overweight |
6'11" | Overweight |
7'0" | Overweight |
Here are some examples of what a 5'3", 278 lbs, female looks like
A Woman's Inspiring 12 Week Weight Loss Journey From 280 to under 250 Pounds
My Weight Journey From Obese to Underweight and Finally to a Healthy Animal Weight: a Reddit User's Story
22 Year Old Woman Loses 160Lbs: 'I've Learned to Love Myself'
F/29/5'3 [153 Lbs Lost in One Year]. One Year to the Day Between These Pics, and the Same Pair of Shorts. After a Lifetime of Severe Obesity Since Early Childhood, I'm Happier, Healthier, and Learning Confidence.