What is a weight percentile?

A weight percentile indicates what percentage of people (of similar age and gender) weigh less than you. For example, if you're in the 75th percentile, you weigh more than 75% of comparable individuals.

How is weight percentile calculated?

Weight percentile is calculated by finding people of similar age, height, and gender in the NHANES dataset, then determining what percentage of them weigh less than you.

NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States, conducted by the CDC.

What is a healthy weight percentile?

There is no single 'healthy' weight percentile. Unlike BMI, percentiles simply show where you rank compared to others. A 50th percentile means you're at the median weight for your height, age, and gender group. Health depends on many factors beyond weight percentile.

Is weight percentile better than BMI?

Weight percentile and BMI measure different things. BMI is a ratio of weight to height, while percentile compares you to real people of similar characteristics. Percentile accounts for age, height, and gender, making it more personalized than BMI alone.

What does the 90th weight percentile mean?

Being in the 90th weight percentile means you weigh more than 90% of people with similar age, height, and gender. Only 10% of comparable individuals weigh more than you.

What age groups does this calculator cover?

This calculator covers ages 2 and up, using NHANES survey data. The data includes thousands of real measurements from Americans of all ages, heights, and both genders.

How accurate is weight percentile?

The accuracy depends on sample size. We show how many people matched your criteria. Results based on larger samples (100+) are more reliable than those with fewer matches. The calculator uses real NHANES data from over 20,000 individuals.

Is a high weight percentile bad?

Not necessarily. Weight percentile only measures total weight - it cannot distinguish between muscle and fat. Athletes and people who lift weights often have high percentiles because muscle is denser than fat. Many factors affect weight including muscle mass, bone density, and genetics. Use this as one data point, not a health judgment.

Weight Percentile Calculator

See how your weight compares to people like you

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About This Calculator

This calculator uses real data from the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) to compare your weight against people of similar age, height, and gender.

We find people close to your height and age, then show what percentage weigh less than you.

Understanding Weight Percentiles

A weight percentile shows where your weight ranks compared to others like you. If you're in the 30th percentile, you weigh more than 30% of people with similar age, height, and gender. The 50th percentile represents the median - half weigh more, half weigh less.

Percentile ranges and what they mean:

Below 25th: Lighter than most similar people
25th - 75th: Average weight range
Above 75th: Heavier than most similar people

Keep in mind: A higher percentile isn't necessarily bad. This calculator measures total weight only - it can't distinguish muscle from fat. Athletes and weightlifters often rank high simply because muscle is denser. Many factors affect weight, so treat this as one data point, not a health verdict.

Weight Percentile vs BMI

While BMI (Body Mass Index) is a simple ratio of weight to height, weight percentile provides more context by comparing you to real people with similar characteristics.

Key differences: BMI treats everyone the same regardless of age or build. Percentile accounts for your age, height, and gender, showing where you actually stand among similar individuals. Two people with the same BMI might have very different percentiles.

About NHANES Data

The NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) is conducted by the CDC and includes physical measurements from thousands of Americans. Our calculator uses real, anonymized data from over 20,000 survey participants.

This data is collected through actual physical examinations, making it more reliable than self-reported surveys. We match you against people within a similar age range and height bracket to ensure meaningful comparisons.