BMI (body mass index) is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared. For Indian adults a normal BMI is 18.5–22.9, overweight starts at 23 and obesity at 25. These cut-offs are lower than the WHO global ones (25 and 30) because Asian Indians carry more body fat, and face diabetes and heart-disease risk, at a lower BMI.
For adults aged 18 and over. An estimate for general guidance, not medical advice. Free to use, no sign-up, and nothing you enter leaves your device.
BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)²
The formula is the same for everyone; what differs is how the result is read. This calculator shows your category under both standards: the Asian Indian cut-offs from the WHO Asia-Pacific guidelines and the 2009 Indian consensus statement, and the WHO global cut-offs used in most international charts.
A person who weighs 70 kg and is 170 cm tall has a BMI of 70 ÷ (1.70 × 1.70) = 24.2. That is normal on the WHO scale but overweight on the Asian Indian scale. At 170 cm the healthy range is 53.5–66.2 kg by Indian cut-offs and 53.5–72.0 kg by WHO cut-offs.
| Category | Asian Indian BMI | WHO global BMI |
|---|---|---|
| Underweight | Below 18.5 | Below 18.5 |
| Normal | 18.5–22.9 | 18.5–24.9 |
| Overweight | 23.0–24.9 | 25.0–29.9 |
| Obese | 25.0 and above | 30.0 and above |
For adults aged 18+. Not for children, teenagers or pregnancy.
BMI is a screening number, not a verdict. It cannot tell muscle from fat, so a lifter can read "overweight" while lean, and a slim person with a soft belly can read "normal" while carrying risky abdominal fat. Pair it with your waist: for Indians, 90 cm or more in men and 80 cm or more in women signals abdominal obesity. If your BMI is 23 or above and your waist is over the line, a modest calorie deficit plus strength training is the fix that works.
Coach Himanshu is a NASM-certified fitness coach. About the coach
A normal BMI for Indian adults is 18.5 to 22.9. A BMI of 23 to 24.9 is overweight and 25 or above is obese. These Asian Indian cut-offs are lower than the WHO global cut-offs of 25 (overweight) and 30 (obese) because Indians tend to have more body fat and higher diabetes and heart-disease risk at the same BMI.
Divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared. For example, 70 kg at 170 cm is 70 ÷ (1.70 × 1.70) = 24.2. If you know your height in feet and inches, convert it to centimetres first: multiply total inches by 2.54.
Not always. BMI only uses height and weight, so it cannot separate muscle from fat. Muscular people can land in the overweight band while having low body fat. If you train seriously, check your waist measurement and body-fat percentage alongside BMI.
No. The formula and the adult cut-offs are the same for men and women. Women naturally carry more body fat than men at the same BMI, which is why body-fat percentage charts are sex-specific. BMI charts for adults do not apply to children, teenagers or pregnant women.
Start with three things: eat in a small calorie deficit of about 300–500 kcal a day, do strength training two to four times a week, and keep protein high so the weight you lose is fat rather than muscle. Measure your waist as well; for Indians, 90 cm or more in men and 80 cm or more in women adds to the health risk.
A calculator gives you a target. Coach Himanshu builds the workout and Indian diet plan that gets you there, and adjusts it as your body changes.