If You Have a BMI of 43, Are You Morbidly Obese?

Obesity is a growing problem in today’s world, meaning that there are many people who now have a BMI of 43 or greater.

And while it’s possible to have a positive body image while registering a 43 BMI score, you can’t enjoy the good health you deserve while walking around with a body mass index of 43.

This is because individuals with a BMI of 43 have abdominal obesity, which is extremely hazardous to long-term health.

Compare Other Body Mass Indexes:

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Is a BMI of 43 morbidly obese for men and women?

A BMI of 43 is considered morbidly obese for men and women but is more often referred to as class 3 obesity, which is the highest obesity classification.

You might also hear BMI 43 and similar body mass index scores being referred to as severe obesity. This means that the individual has an elevated risk of disease due to their BMI.

I mentioned that abdominal obesity—which is almost guaranteed at a 43 BMI—is particularly problematic for health.

This is because excess abdominal fat is often accompanied by visceral fat, which is a dangerous internal fat that can wrap around your organs and cause chronic disease.

Why do some people have a body mass index of 43?

Many people have a BMI of 43 because they overeat and don’t expend enough energy to maintain a normal weight.

Genetics play a role in obesity, as do our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, so it’s not surprising that more people than ever are obese.

Oftentimes, it seems like the higher a person’s BMI gets, the more easily they put on weight, which can cause their body mass index to spiral out of control.

Obviously, BMI is just a number based on your height and weight, so it can’t directly measure body fatness.

As such, your best bet for reducing your 43 BMI is to focus on lowering your body fat, which you can do by eating in a calorie deficit and performing regular exercise, ideally a combination of weight training and cardio.

BMI 43 classifications

Here is a list of all the BMI 43 classifications and their obesity status.

43.1 BMI

A 43.1 BMI is well into the class 3 obesity category (by around 3 points, to be precise),

43.2 BMI

A BMI of 42.3 is over 13 BMI points into the general obese body mass index classification.

43.3 BMI

If you have a 43.3 BMI, then you’ll need to lower your calorie intake so that your body can shed some of its excess fat. It’s best to do this under the supervision of a doctor.

43.4 BMI

Those who have a 43.4 BMI may well have plenty of muscle or a large frame, but they also likely have a lot of body fat, given that a BMI of 43.4 is comfortably obese.

43.5 BMI

A 43.5 BMI is classed as morbidly obese and is likely an indicator that you’re risking your long-term health by being so heavy. The good news is that with a will to take action, you can definitely slim down dramatically.

43.6 BMI

If you have a 43.6 BMI, then your body mass index is 13-15 points higher than average for American men and women.

43.7 BMI

People with a BMI of 43.7 are probably putting their long-term physical health in jeopardy by maintaining such a high body weight.

43.8 BMI

A BMI of 43.8 is comfortably in the class 3 obesity classification, which is commonly referred to as severe obesity.

43.9 BMI

If you’ve got a 43.9 BMI, then you are considered severely obese for a person of your height.

In conclusion

Is it possible to be happy with how your body looks at a BMI of 43? Of course! There’s no need to look a certain way when it comes to having a positive body image.

Yet, when it comes to your internal biology and physical health, there’s no denying that individuals with a 43 BMI are putting themselves at risk of chronic disease.

Sure, obesity doesn’t guarantee disease, but it does increase your risk dramatically, especially when you get into the higher obesity categories, such as class 3 obesity.