Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) from height and weight and see your weight category on a visual chart, in metric or imperial units.
Load representative profiles to see BMI categories in action:
Enter your weight, height, and age above to compute your Body Mass Index.
Your Body Mass Index indicates a healthy weight per Asian-Pacific standards.
Equivalent to: 117.9 lbs – 145.8 lbs
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Maintain your fitness routine and prioritise a balanced diet rich in whole foods, vegetables, and lean proteins.
WHO Asian-Pacific cutoffs are used in this calculator, specifically recommended for Indian and South Asian populations. These differ from Western standards where overweight begins at 25 and obesity at 30.
< 18.5
Low body fat or muscle mass. Risk of nutrient deficiencies, osteoporosis, and weak immune system.
18.5 – 22.9
Optimal range for South Asians. Lowest risk of weight-related chronic disease.
23.0 – 27.4
Increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in South Asians at this range.
≥ 27.5
High risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome. Medical advice recommended.
| Category | WHO Standard (Western) | WHO Asian-Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| Underweight | < 18.5 | < 18.5 |
| Normal | 18.5 – 24.9 | 18.5 – 22.9 ✓ |
| Overweight | 25.0 – 29.9 | 23.0 – 27.4 ✓ |
| Obese | ≥ 30.0 | ≥ 27.5 ✓ |
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple, widely used metric to estimate whether a person has a healthy body weight relative to their height. BMI categorizes individuals into underweight...
South Asians — including Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and Sri Lankans — have a higher body fat percentage at the same BMI compared to Western populations. This means health risks appear at lower BMI values.
Research shows South Asians have higher visceral (abdominal) fat at lower BMI levels. At BMI 23, an Indian person has the same cardiovascular risk as a European at BMI 25. This is due to genetic differences in fat distribution — more central fat storage for the same total body weight.
Type 2 diabetes in South Asians often appears at BMI 22–24 — 2–4 units lower than in European populations. Hypertension and insulin resistance also develop earlier. The WHO Expert Consultation (2004) confirmed that action points for public health should be lower for Asian populations.
The optimal BMI range for Indians and South Asians is 18.5–22.9. A BMI of 23 or above warrants lifestyle changes. At 27.5 or above, medical consultation is strongly advised. Waist circumference is also a useful complementary measure — men: <90 cm, women: <80 cm.
The WHO, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the Diabetes Foundation of India all endorse lower BMI cut-offs for South Asians. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) in India also uses these lower thresholds for population-level health screening.
BMI is a useful population-level screening tool, but it has well-known limitations for individual assessment.
Athletes and bodybuilders may have a high BMI due to muscle, not fat. A rugby player at 190 cm / 100 kg (BMI 27.7) may have very low body fat. BMI cannot distinguish fat from lean tissue.
Visceral fat (around organs) is more dangerous than subcutaneous fat. Two people at the same BMI can have very different waist sizes and health risks. Waist-to-height ratio is often a better predictor of metabolic risk.
Older adults naturally lose muscle and gain fat, so BMI may underestimate risk. Women typically carry more body fat than men at the same BMI. Children require BMI-for-age percentile charts, not adult thresholds.
Directly measures adipose tissue vs lean mass. More accurate for individual health assessment.
Measures central fat distribution. Men: <0.9 (healthy), Women: <0.8 (healthy).
Waist-to-Height Ratio
Keep waist <50% of height. Simple, no equipment needed, good predictor of metabolic risk.
Body Mass Index is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (BMI = kg / m²). It is a simple ratio that does not directly measure body fat, but it correlates closely enough with health risk across large populations to remain a standard screening tool.
Rather than the global WHO thresholds of 18.5, 25, and 30, this calculator applies the WHO Asian-Pacific cutoffs of 18.5 (lower bound of Normal), 23 (Overweight), and 27.5 (Obese), because research shows South Asians accumulate more visceral fat and face elevated diabetes and cardiovascular risk at lower BMI values than Western populations.
A person who is 170 cm (1.70 m) tall and weighs 70 kg has a BMI of 70 / (1.70 x 1.70) = 24.2. Under the Asian-Pacific cutoffs used here this falls into the Overweight category (23.0 and above), even though the same BMI would be classified as Normal under the Western 25.0 threshold.
Because BMI cannot distinguish muscle from fat, pair your result with the Body Fat Calculator for a composition-based estimate and the Calorie Calculator to plan an appropriate energy intake for your target weight range.
Quick answers about how this tool works.
BMI is calculated using the formula: BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)². For example, a person who is 170 cm (1.70 m) tall and weighs 70 kg has a BMI of 70 ÷ (1.70 × 1.70) = 24.2. In imperial units, the formula is: BMI = [weight (lbs) ÷ height (in)²] × 703.
For Indians and South Asians, the WHO Asian-Pacific guidelines recommend a Normal BMI range of 18.5 to 22.9. Overweight begins at BMI 23 and Obesity at BMI 27.5 — both significantly lower than the Western thresholds of 25 and 30. This is because South Asians carry more visceral (abdominal) fat at lower BMI levels, which raises metabolic and cardiovascular risk earlier.
Research consistently shows that South Asians develop type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease at lower BMI values than Western populations. This is due to genetic differences in body fat distribution — South Asians store more fat centrally (around the abdomen and organs) at the same overall BMI. The WHO Expert Consultation in 2004 endorsed lower action thresholds of 23 (overweight) and 27.5 (obese) for Asian populations.
Yes. Using WHO Asian-Pacific guidelines, a BMI of 24.0 falls in the Overweight category for South Asians (range: 23.0–27.4). Under Western standards, BMI 24.0 would be considered Normal. This is an important distinction — at BMI 24, an Indian person has an elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes and should consider lifestyle modifications.
For a person 170 cm (1.70 m) tall, the healthy weight range using Asian-Pacific guidelines (BMI 18.5–22.9) is approximately 53.5 kg to 66.1 kg (117.9 lbs to 145.8 lbs). Using Western guidelines (BMI 18.5–24.9), the range would be slightly wider at 53.5 kg to 71.9 kg. The Asian-Pacific range is recommended for Indians and South Asians.
For a person 180 cm (1.80 m) tall, the healthy weight range using Asian-Pacific guidelines (BMI 18.5–22.9) is approximately 59.9 kg to 74.1 kg (132.1 lbs to 163.5 lbs). A weight of 90 kg at this height gives a BMI of 27.8, which falls in the Obese category per Asian-Pacific standards and Overweight under Western standards.
BMI has known limitations. It does not differentiate between muscle mass and body fat — athletes may score as overweight despite very low body fat. It also does not account for fat distribution, bone density, age, or gender. For a more complete picture, combine BMI with body fat percentage measurement and waist circumference. For men, a waist over 90 cm (35 in) and for women over 80 cm (31.5 in) indicates elevated risk independent of BMI.
BMI is a simple weight-to-height ratio and does not directly measure body fat. Body fat percentage tells you what proportion of your total body weight is fat tissue. Two people can have the same BMI but very different body compositions — an athlete with high muscle mass and a sedentary person may both have BMI 26, but the athlete has far less body fat. Body fat percentage is a more accurate measure of health and fitness.
The BMI formula and thresholds are the same for men and women. However, women naturally carry more body fat than men at the same BMI due to hormonal and physiological differences. At BMI 22, women typically have about 28–32% body fat, while men have about 18–22%. This means BMI may slightly underestimate health risk in women with low muscle mass and overestimate it in muscular men.
Plain-language explainers that sit next to this tool.
A BMI of 25 is "overweight" for a Western adult, but research shows South Asians carry significantly more body fat at the same BMI — and face higher metabolic risk. The WHO recognises lower BMI thresholds for Asians. Here is what the research says and why it matters.
Two people can share the exact same BMI and have very different heart disease risk. Waist-to-hip ratio explains why — and when you should trust it over BMI.
Body fat percentage is a more accurate measure of health than BMI. But how is it calculated, what is a healthy range for men and women, and which measurement method is most accessible? This guide covers everything.
The BMI scale classifies weight from underweight to obese — but what counts as healthy varies by age and sex. This guide explains the WHO chart, what your number actually means, and the well-documented limitations of BMI as a health measure.
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