Why India uses different BMI ranges
Research in India and across Asia has shown that, at the same BMI, Asian adults tend to have more body fat — especially around the abdomen — and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease than people of European background. The World Health Organization’s Asia-Pacific guidance and the 2009 consensus guidelines for Asian Indians therefore lowered the thresholds for overweight and obesity.
Asian BMI ranges
| BMI (kg/m²) | Asia-Pacific / India | International (WHO) |
|---|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 18.5 – 22.9 | Normal | Healthy weight |
| 23.0 – 24.9 | Overweight | Healthy weight |
| 25.0 – 29.9 | Obesity class I | Overweight |
| 30 or more | Obesity class II | Obesity |
So a BMI of 24 counts as healthy on the international scale but overweight on the Indian scale. This calculator uses the Asia-Pacific ranges automatically.
Healthy weight in kg on the Indian scale
The healthy weight range here is the weight that gives a BMI from 18.5 to 22.9:
| Height | BMI 18.5 | BMI 22.9 | BMI 25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 41.6 kg | 51.5 kg | 56.3 kg |
| 155 cm | 44.4 kg | 55.0 kg | 60.1 kg |
| 160 cm | 47.4 kg | 58.6 kg | 64.0 kg |
| 165 cm | 50.4 kg | 62.3 kg | 68.1 kg |
| 170 cm | 53.5 kg | 66.2 kg | 72.2 kg |
| 175 cm | 56.7 kg | 70.1 kg | 76.6 kg |
| 180 cm | 59.9 kg | 74.2 kg | 81.0 kg |
| 185 cm | 63.3 kg | 78.4 kg | 85.6 kg |
| 190 cm | 66.8 kg | 82.7 kg | 90.3 kg |
| 195 cm | 70.3 kg | 87.1 kg | 95.1 kg |
Waist size for Indian adults
Abdominal obesity is common in India even at a normal BMI. Indian consensus guidance uses a waist above 90 cm for men and above 80 cm for women as a sign of abdominal obesity. Measure at the level of your navel after breathing out.
Other BMI calculators
For the international ranges, use the BMI Calculator; for children, use the Child BMI Calculator. To look at insulin resistance using BMI and blood test results, try the TyG-BMI Calculator.