Why are the BMI cut-offs different for Indians?

At the same BMI, South Asians tend to have a higher body fat percentage and more fat around the organs than Europeans, and diabetes and heart disease risk rises at lower BMI values. That is why Indian guidelines use 23 for overweight and 25 for obese.

It is in the overweight band on the Asian scale, which means risk starts to climb, not that something is wrong. Look at your waist, your blood sugar and cholesterol reports, and how you feel. A doctor can read those together.

Can I use this BMI calculator if I am under 18?

No. Children and teenagers are assessed with BMI-for-age growth charts, and an adult cut-off would give a wrong answer. Ask a paediatrician.

Does BMI work for athletes or people who lift weights?

Not well. Muscle weighs more than fat, so a muscular person can show a high BMI with low body fat. Waist size and body fat tests give a better picture.

What is a healthy weight for my height?

The result shows the weight range that matches a BMI of 18.5 to 22.9 for your height. Treat it as a guide. Many people feel and test well at the upper end of it.

Should I measure my waist as well?

Yes, if you can. Waist size picks up belly fat, which BMI misses. Indian guidelines flag a waist of 90 cm or more in men and 80 cm or more in women.

Does the calculator save my details?

No. The sum runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored. The WhatsApp button only passes your BMI value if you choose to tap it.

BMI calculator for India (Asian cut-offs)

By The DietGhar Team

A measuring tape coiled on a wooden table next to a steel bowl of apples, guava and bananas — Illustrative image generated with AI

Enter your height, weight and age to get your body mass index and where it falls on the scale used for Asian and Indian adults.

The Western scale calls a BMI of 25 "overweight" and 30 "obese". Indians tend to carry more body fat and more belly fat at the same BMI, so Indian guidelines call 23 to 24.9 overweight and 25 and above obese. This page uses those lower cut-offs.

How BMI is worked out

BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres, squared. A person who weighs 70 kg and is 1.75 m tall has a BMI of 70 divided by 3.0625, which is 22.9.

Asian cut-offs used here: below 18.5 is underweight, 18.5 to 22.9 is the healthy range, 23 to 24.9 is overweight, and 25 and above is obese. They follow the 2004 WHO expert consultation on Asian populations and the Indian consensus statement that builds on it.

Limits you should know about: BMI is for adults aged 18 and above. Children and teenagers are judged on growth charts for their age. BMI also ignores muscle, bone and where fat sits. A strength trainer can read as overweight while being lean, and an older person can read as healthy while carrying little muscle and a lot of belly fat. Waist size tells you something BMI cannot.

Worked example

A man who is 171 cm tall and weighs 80 kg has a BMI of 27.4, which sits in the obese band on the Asian scale. For his height, the healthy range is about 54.1 kg to 67.0 kg. Reaching it is a long way off, so a first goal of 5 to 7 percent of body weight is more realistic than jumping to the bottom of the range.

What 1,500 kcal looks like on an Indian plate

If your BMI points to weight loss, a day near 1,500 kcal could look like this. Portions are examples, not a prescription.

Breakfast: 2 besan chillas with mint chutney and a small bowl of curd.
Lunch: 2 rotis, 1 katori dal, 1 katori sabzi with a little oil, cucumber and tomato salad.
Evening: 1 fruit and a small handful of roasted chana.
Dinner: 1 roti or half a katori of rice, a katori of paneer or soya sabzi, and a plate of cooked vegetables.

Your own number depends on your age, activity and goal. The calorie deficit calculator on this site shows it.

Questions people ask

Why are the BMI cut-offs different for Indians?: At the same BMI, South Asians tend to have a higher body fat percentage and more fat around the organs than Europeans, and diabetes and heart disease risk rises at lower BMI values. That is why Indian guidelines use 23 for overweight and 25 for obese.
Is a BMI of 24 bad?: It is in the overweight band on the Asian scale, which means risk starts to climb, not that something is wrong. Look at your waist, your blood sugar and cholesterol reports, and how you feel. A doctor can read those together.
Can I use this BMI calculator if I am under 18?: No. Children and teenagers are assessed with BMI-for-age growth charts, and an adult cut-off would give a wrong answer. Ask a paediatrician.
Does BMI work for athletes or people who lift weights?: Not well. Muscle weighs more than fat, so a muscular person can show a high BMI with low body fat. Waist size and body fat tests give a better picture.
What is a healthy weight for my height?: The result shows the weight range that matches a BMI of 18.5 to 22.9 for your height. Treat it as a guide. Many people feel and test well at the upper end of it.
Should I measure my waist as well?: Yes, if you can. Waist size picks up belly fat, which BMI misses. Indian guidelines flag a waist of 90 cm or more in men and 80 cm or more in women.
Does the calculator save my details?: No. The sum runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored. The WhatsApp button only passes your BMI value if you choose to tap it.

Sources

Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies. Lancet 2004;363:157-163, WHO Expert Consultation (checked 13 October 2026)
Consensus statement for diagnosis of obesity, abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome for Asian Indians. J Assoc Physicians India 2009;57:163-170, Misra A et al. (checked 13 October 2026)