🇬🇹 Guatemala 🌍 WHO 🌏 Asia-Pacific 🇯🇵 Japan
BMI Calculator — Guatemala
Body Mass Index · WHO Standard · Guatemala Health Statistics
QUICK ANSWER
WHO normal BMI: 18.5–24.9. In Guatemala, 21.2% of adults are obese and 53% are overweight or obese (WHO 2022 Global Health Observatory). Guatemala uses the WHO BMI standard. The Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social de Guatemala (MSPAS) publishes these statistics nationally. Guatemala faces a dual nutritional burden: significant childhood malnutrition in indigenous rural communities alongside rising adult obesity in urban areas.
Weight / Height · Metric (kg/cm) · Imperial (lbs/ft)
BMI Classification — Guatemala & International
| Category / Normal | 🌍 WHO | 🌏 Asia-Pacific | 🇯🇵 Japan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underweight | < 18.5 | < 18.5 | < 18.5 |
| Normal weight | 18.5 – 24.9 | 18.5 – 22.9 | 18.5 – 24.9 |
| Overweight | 25 – 29.9 | 23 – 27.4 | ≥ 25 (Obese) |
| Obese | ≥ 30 | ≥ 27.5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the obesity rate in Guatemala? ▾
21.2% of adults in Guatemala are classified as obese and 53% are overweight or obese per WHO 2022 Global Health Observatory data. Guatemala faces a dual nutritional burden: significant childhood malnutrition in indigenous rural communities alongside rising adult obesity in urban areas. The Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social de Guatemala (MSPAS) monitors these figures through national health and nutrition surveys.
What BMI standard does Guatemala use? ▾
Guatemala follows the WHO standard (normal 18.5–24.9, overweight 25–29.9, obese ≥30). The Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social de Guatemala (MSPAS) applies these thresholds in national clinical guidelines and public health campaigns. Unlike parts of Asia which use lower cut-offs, the standard WHO thresholds reflect the original research on European and North American populations.
Is BMI an accurate measure for people in Guatemala? ▾
BMI is a widely used population screening tool in Guatemala but it has well-known limitations: it does not distinguish between muscle and fat, and cannot capture fat distribution — abdominal (visceral) fat carries higher cardiovascular risk than fat stored in limbs. The Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social de Guatemala (MSPAS) recommends combining BMI with waist circumference (men: <94 cm, women: <80 cm per WHO) and other clinical indicators for a complete assessment.