Is 220 lbs overweight for 5'11"?

Yes — 220 lbs is 42 lbs above the healthy upper limit for 5'11".

At 220 lbs (99.8 kg) and 5'11" (180.3 cm), the BMI is 30.7 — obese class i.

Public-health guidelines place the ideal weight for 180.3 cm tall adults at 132–178 kg, equivalent to a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.

BMI scale WHO BMI categories from 14 to 42 with a marker at 30.7. Under Normal Over Ob I Ob II+ BMI 30.7 14 42
Your BMI of 30.7 sits in the obese class i band. Cutoffs: 18.5, 25, 30, 35 (WHO).

Reviewed by the SnapBMI editorial team. Last updated: .

What the numbers mean for you

You are 41 lbs (18.5 kg) above the healthy upper limit and 5 lbs (2.3 kg) above the obesity threshold.

A first, clinically meaningful goal is a 10% reduction — about 22 lbs (10.0 kg), achievable in roughly 22 weeks at a 500 kcal daily deficit. This alone typically improves blood pressure, HbA1c, and lipid profile.

Timelines assume ~7,700 kcal per kg of body fat. Real progress varies with muscle mass, adherence, and medications.

What this means

A modest, sustained weight loss of 5–10% is consistently shown to improve blood pressure, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity even without reaching a 'normal' BMI.

Waist matters more than the scale

Two people can share the same BMI and have very different metabolic risk. For that reason, waist circumference is now considered a stronger predictor of cardiometabolic disease than BMI alone.

  • Waist-to-height rule: keep your waist under half your height — that means below 90 cm (35") at 180.3 cm.
  • Absolute cutoff for most adults: waist under 94 cm (37") is associated with meaningfully lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
  • Higher-risk zone: waist above 102 cm (40") — this is where risk climbs sharply regardless of BMI.

Precise ±5 lb neighbours at this height

WeightConversionBMICategory
215 lbs97.5 kg30.0Obese Class I
216 lbs98 kg30.1Obese Class I
217 lbs98.4 kg30.3Obese Class I
218 lbs98.9 kg30.4Obese Class I
219 lbs99.3 kg30.5Obese Class I
220 lbs ← this page99.8 kg30.7Obese Class I
221 lbs100.2 kg30.8Obese Class I
222 lbs100.7 kg31.0Obese Class I
223 lbs101.2 kg31.1Obese Class I
224 lbs101.6 kg31.3Obese Class I
225 lbs102.1 kg31.4Obese Class I

Practical next steps

  1. Engage a multidisciplinary approach: dietitian, GP, and where appropriate behavioural support.
  2. Start with low-impact movement (walking, swimming, cycling) to protect joints.
  3. Address sleep apnoea risk if snoring or daytime fatigue is present.
  4. Track non-scale wins — energy, mobility, blood pressure — alongside weight.

Frequently asked questions

Is 220 lbs overweight for 5'11"?

220 lbs at 5'11" gives a BMI of 30.7, which is obese class i. The healthy range for 5'11" is 132–178 lbs.

What is the healthy weight for 5'11"?

132–178 lbs.

Related calculations

Sources & references