BMI: Published NHANES Percentiles
FitnessNorms reproduces P5, P25, P50, P75, and P95 from Table 10 of the June 2025 NCHS anthropometric report. No percentile was estimated, interpolated, or moved into a different age group.
- Sample: 5,929 adults aged 20 and older: 2,680 males and 3,249 females. Pregnant females were excluded.
- Measurement: trained NHANES technicians measured weight and standing height in a mobile examination centre. BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared.
- Age groups: the source's 20-29 through 70-79 groups and 80-and-older group are retained exactly.
- Estimation: the report gives unweighted sample counts and survey-weighted percentiles using MEC weights and the complex sample design.
The trend chart uses age 85 as a display anchor for the published 80-and-older group. It is not a weighted mean age. BMI is a screening measure and does not distinguish fat, muscle, and bone or locate body fat. These population percentiles do not provide individual clinical interpretation or recommended targets. Full source limitations are on the reference page.