Free tool · by dietitian Bhuvana B
BMI calculator for Indians, with the Indian cut-offs.
Indians tend to carry more body fat at the same BMI, so the healthy range ends at 22.9, not 24.9. Enter your height and weight to see where you stand and your healthy weight range.
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GoldA dietitian explains
What your BMI means for an Indian adult
The Indian cut-offs
BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres, squared. For Indian adults, the 2009 Indian consensus counts 18.5 to 22.9 as healthy, 23 to 24.9 as overweight and 25 or more as obesity; below 18.5 is underweight. International charts use 25 and 30 instead.
Why the line is lower for Indians
At the same BMI, Asian Indians tend to have more body fat, more fat around the waist and inside the abdomen, and they develop diabetes and heart disease at lower weights. A WHO expert group made the same point for Asian populations in 2004.
Your waist matters too
A waist of 90 cm or more for men, or 80 cm or more for women, counts as abdominal obesity by the Indian consensus, even when BMI looks normal. A 2025 update by Indian experts calls a BMI above 23 stage 1 obesity, and stage 2 when the waist is also too large and there are related health problems, which your doctor assesses.
What BMI cannot tell you
BMI does not separate muscle from fat, and it does not apply in pregnancy, to very muscular people or to children and teenagers, who are checked on BMI-for-age growth charts. It is a starting point: a dietitian also looks at your waist, food, routine and health reports.
Read next
Sources
- Consensus statement for diagnosis of obesity, abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome for Asian Indians, Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, 2009
- Revised definition of obesity in Asian Indians living in India, Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome, 2025
- Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies, WHO Expert Consultation, The Lancet, 2004
- Revised IAP growth charts for height, weight and body mass index for 5- to 18-year-old Indian children, Indian Pediatrics, 2015
Questions
Questions about BMI
What is a healthy BMI for Indians?
18.5 to 22.9 for adults. By the 2009 Indian consensus, 23 to 24.9 is overweight and 25 or more is obesity, lower than the international cut-offs of 25 and 30.
Why is the BMI cut-off lower for Indians?
Asian Indians tend to carry more body fat, especially around the waist, at the same BMI, and develop diabetes and heart disease at lower weights. That is why Indian experts lowered the cut-offs in 2009.
What waist size is healthy for Indians?
Below 90 cm for men and below 80 cm for women, by the Indian consensus. Measure around your bare waist, midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, after breathing out.
How do I calculate my BMI?
Divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres, squared. For example, 65 kg and 1.60 m gives 65 ÷ (1.60 × 1.60) = 25.4, which is obesity by the Indian cut-off.
Is BMI accurate?
It is a quick screening number, not a diagnosis. It does not tell muscle from fat and does not apply in pregnancy or to children. Your waist size and health reports complete the picture.
Can I use this calculator for my child?
No. Children and teenagers are checked on BMI-for-age growth charts: WHO charts up to 5 years and Indian Academy of Pediatrics charts from 5 to 18 years. Ask your paediatrician, or see our kids nutrition page.
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