Quick answer
What is a healthy BMI for Indians?
For Indian adults, a healthy BMI is 18.5 to 22.9. A BMI of 23 to 24.9 counts as overweight and 25 or above as obese, which is lower than the international thresholds of 25 and 30. For someone 170 cm tall, that means a healthy weight of about 53.5 to 66.2 kg.
- Formula: BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)²
- Asian bands: <18.5 under · 18.5–22.9 normal · 23–24.9 overweight · ≥25 obese
- WHO bands: <18.5 under · 18.5–24.9 normal · 25–29.9 overweight · ≥30 obese
How do you use the BMI calculator?
Enter your height and weight in cm and kg, or switch to ft · lb to enter your height in feet and inches and your weight in pounds. Then choose the cut-offs. The Asian scale is recommended for Indians and other South Asians; the WHO international scale is there for comparison.
The calculator shows your BMI to one decimal place, your category and the healthy weight range for your height. If you are outside that range, it also shows how far you are from it.
How is BMI calculated?
BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height in metres. If you use feet and pounds, the calculator converts them first.
Take someone who is 5 ft 7 in and weighs 150 lb. That is 170.18 cm and about 68.0 kg, so the BMI is 68.0 ÷ 1.7018² = 23.5. On the Asian scale that is overweight. On the WHO scale it is normal.
Their healthy weight on the Asian scale is about 53.6 to 66.3 kg, or roughly 118 to 146 lb.
What is the BMI chart for Indians?
| Category | Asian / Indian | WHO international |
|---|---|---|
| Underweight | Below 18.5 | Below 18.5 |
| Normal | 18.5 – 22.9 | 18.5 – 24.9 |
| Overweight | 23 – 24.9 | 25 – 29.9 |
| Obese | 25 and above | 30 and above |
What are the limits of BMI?
BMI doesn’t separate fat from muscle, so athletes can show as overweight. It also isn’t meant for children, pregnant women or the very elderly. For Indians, a waist size above 90 cm in men or 80 cm in women is another warning sign worth discussing with a doctor.
Use your BMI as a starting point, not a diagnosis. A doctor can look at your waist, blood pressure, blood sugar and family history to judge your health risk.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal BMI for Indians?
For Indian and other Asian adults, a BMI of 18.5 to 22.9 is normal, 23 to 24.9 is overweight and 25 or more is obese. These cut-offs are lower than the international ones because Asians tend to develop diabetes and heart disease at a lower BMI.
How is BMI calculated?
BMI = weight in kilograms ÷ (height in metres)². For example, 70 kg at 1.70 m gives 70 ÷ 2.89 = 24.2.
Why are Asian BMI cut-offs different?
Studies show South Asians carry more body fat and abdominal fat at the same BMI as Europeans, which raises the risk of diabetes and heart disease. The WHO Asia-Pacific guidance and India’s 2009 consensus guidelines therefore use lower thresholds.
Is BMI accurate?
BMI is a quick screening tool. It can overestimate fat in muscular people and underestimate it in older adults. Waist size and a doctor’s assessment give a fuller picture.
Has the definition of obesity for Indians changed?
Yes. A 2025 revision by Indian experts (Misra et al.) defines obesity in Asian Indians as a BMI above 23, staged by waist size and health effects. This calculator shows the established Asian cut-offs; ask your doctor which definition applies to you.
What is the ideal weight for 170 cm?
Using Asian cut-offs, a healthy weight at 170 cm is about 53.5 to 66.2 kg. Using international cut-offs it is about 53.5 to 72 kg.
Can I use this BMI calculator for children?
No. The adult BMI bands are for people aged 18 and over. Children and teenagers are assessed with BMI-for-age growth charts that account for age and sex, so ask your paediatrician.