Is 220 lbs overweight for a woman at 5'11"?

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

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

For an adult who is 180.3 cm tall, the World Health Organization considers a weight between 132 and 178 kg to be healthy.

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

Cardiometabolic risk rises sharply in this band, but is far from deterministic — fitness, diet quality, and sleep substantially modify outcomes.

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 women: waist under 80 cm (31.5") is associated with meaningfully lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
  • Higher-risk zone: waist above 88 cm (35") — this is where risk climbs sharply regardless of BMI.

For women at 5'11"

BMI uses the same formula for both sexes, but health interpretation differs. Women typically carry a higher percentage of body fat at the same BMI than men. A waist circumference under 35 inches (88 cm) lowers cardiometabolic risk independent 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. Consult a GP for a full metabolic assessment (blood pressure, HbA1c, lipids).
  2. Set an initial target of 5–10% body-weight loss — clinically meaningful and achievable.
  3. Combine dietary change, daily movement, and sleep optimisation.
  4. Discuss whether structured programmes or medication are appropriate.

Frequently asked questions

Is 220 lbs overweight for a woman at 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.

What waist size is healthy for a woman at 5'11"?

Under 35 inches (88 cm) is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk.

Related calculations

Sources & references