Your BMI, the actual weight range that puts you in the healthy band, and the additional measures that describe an individual better than BMI alone. Includes the Asian-population thresholds most calculators leave out — and is explicit about what BMI cannot see.
BMI Calculator
Instant calculationWHO's global thresholds are 25 and 30, but expert guidance has identified lower action points for Asian populations, where cardiometabolic risk appears at a lower BMI. Choose the one that applies to you.
The formula
80 kg at 175 cm: 80 ÷ 1.75² = 80 ÷ 3.0625 = BMI 26.1. The healthy band for that height runs 56.7 to below 76.6 kg, so this is 3.4 kg above the upper boundary. BMI Prime of 1.04 says the same thing more directly — 4% over the upper normal limit.
Why the Asian chart exists
The standard thresholds — 25 for overweight, 30 for obese — were derived largely from European populations. People of Asian and South Asian descent develop type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease at substantially lower BMI values, because at the same BMI they typically carry more visceral fat and less muscle.
WHO's global adult BMI categories remain 25 for overweight and 30 for obese. For Asian populations specifically, a 2004 WHO expert consultation identified lower action points — 23 for increased risk and 27.5 for high risk — because metabolic risk tends to appear at a lower BMI in these populations, without formally replacing the international scale. Several national health services — including in Singapore, India and the UK for South Asian patients — have since adopted these action points clinically.
| Category | WHO international | Asian / South Asian |
|---|---|---|
| Underweight | Below 18.5 | Below 18.5 |
| Healthy | 18.5 – 24.9 | 18.5 – 22.9 |
| Overweight / increased risk | 25.0 – 29.9 | 23.0 – 27.4 |
| Obese / high risk | 30.0 and above | 27.5 and above |
The practical consequence: a BMI of 24 reads as healthy on the international chart and as increased risk on the Asian one. If you are of Asian descent, the second is the relevant number — and most BMI calculators will never mention it.
Healthy weight by height — full reference table
The weight range that falls inside the healthy BMI band, for every common height. Bookmark-worthy on its own.
| Height | Healthy weight (WHO) | Healthy weight (Asian chart) |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm (4'11") | 42–56 kg (92–124 lb) | 42–52 kg |
| 155 cm (5'1") | 44–60 kg (98–132 lb) | 44–55 kg |
| 160 cm (5'3") | 47–64 kg (104–141 lb) | 47–59 kg |
| 165 cm (5'5") | 50–68 kg (111–149 lb) | 50–62 kg |
| 170 cm (5'7") | 53–72 kg (118–159 lb) | 53–66 kg |
| 175 cm (5'9") | 57–76 kg (125–168 lb) | 57–70 kg |
| 180 cm (5'11") | 60–81 kg (132–178 lb) | 60–74 kg |
| 185 cm (6'1") | 63–85 kg (140–188 lb) | 63–78 kg |
| 190 cm (6'3") | 67–90 kg (147–198 lb) | 67–83 kg |
| 195 cm (6'5") | 70–95 kg (155–209 lb) | 70–87 kg |
| 200 cm (6'7") | 74–100 kg (163–220 lb) | 74–92 kg |
The table gives approximate rounded weights. Exact reference intervals are BMI 18.5 to below 25 (WHO) and 18.5 to below 23 (Asian); use the calculator for your height. Notice how wide each range is — roughly 20 kg at average heights. There is no single correct weight for a height.
The three waist measures, and which to use
For scope and interpretation, see NICE guidance on BMI and central adiposity. Its adult waist-to-height recommendations have a defined scope; this tool does not establish a diagnosis.
Waist measurements can complement BMI when assessing central adiposity. These three measures use different thresholds and should be interpreted in context:
| Measure | Threshold | What it is best at |
|---|---|---|
| Waist-to-height | Keep under 0.5 | A complementary central-adiposity estimate. NICE recommends its use alongside BMI in adults with BMI below 35; it does not replace a clinical assessment |
| Absolute waist | Men 94 / 102 cm Women 80 / 88 cm | What most clinical guidelines actually use. Sex-specific, and the figure your doctor is likely to quote |
| Waist-to-hip | Men above 0.90 Women above 0.85 | Distinguishing where fat sits — central versus peripheral. The WHO definition of abdominal obesity |
Enter waist and hip above and the calculator reports all three. Use the measurement protocol and reference population appropriate to the method. A low waist ratio does not invalidate a correctly calculated BMI.
What BMI cannot see
Three specific failures, all well documented, and worth knowing before reading anything into your result:
| The limitation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Muscle counts as mass | A trained athlete routinely registers as overweight or obese. Muscle is denser than fat, and BMI cannot tell them apart — it only knows total weight against height |
| Fat distribution is invisible | Two people at the same BMI can carry very different risk. Visceral fat around the organs is far more dangerous than subcutaneous fat on hips and thighs, and BMI sees neither |
| Age changes composition | Muscle mass declines from roughly the fourth decade. An older adult can hold a healthy BMI while carrying substantially more fat than the number suggests |
This is why the calculator above also reports waist circumference risk when you enter it. Waist-to-height ratio predicts cardiometabolic outcomes better than BMI in most studies, and needs only a tape measure. The rule is memorable: keep your waist under half your height.
The other measures, and when each is better
| Measure | What it adds | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| BMI Prime | Your BMI as a ratio to 25 — so 1.10 means 10% above the upper normal limit | You want the distance from the threshold rather than a category label |
| Ponderal Index | Divides by height cubed rather than squared | You are notably tall or short — BMI systematically overstates for tall people and understates for short ones |
| Waist-to-height | Provides a practical estimate of central adiposity | Useful alongside BMI in the populations covered by the selected guidance; no single measurement provides a complete assessment |
| Body fat percentage | Estimates composition rather than total mass | You train regularly, or BMI seems inconsistent with how you look |
Children and teenagers
Adult BMI categories do not apply under 20. A child's healthy BMI changes continuously with age and differs between boys and girls, so the result is expressed as a percentile against a reference population of the same age and sex rather than as a fixed number.
| Percentile | Category |
|---|---|
| Below 5th | Underweight |
| 5th – 84th | Healthy weight |
| 85th – 94th | Overweight |
| 95th and above | Obese |
Applying adult categories to a child produces a misleading answer in both directions. If you are checking a child's weight, use the growth charts your paediatrician uses — and raise it with them rather than acting on a number alone. Growth is uneven, and a single reading during a growth spurt says very little.
Step-by-step guide
- Measure without shoes, first thing in the morning. Height compresses slightly through the day, and weight varies by 1–2 kg with hydration and food. Consistency of timing matters more than precision of any single reading.
- Choose the right chart. If you are of Asian or South Asian descent, the lower thresholds apply.
- Add your waist measurement. Use the waist-measurement location and technique required by your selected guidance; keep the tape level without compressing the skin. Use the measurement method recommended by the guidance you are following; inconsistent tape placement can change the result.
- Read the range, not just the number. The healthy weight range for your height tells you what to act on; the category label does not.
- Track the trend. One reading is a snapshot. The same measurement monthly for a year is the useful information.
Common mistakes
Frequently asked questions
Is BMI accurate for me?
It is accurate as a calculation and limited as an assessment. For most sedentary adults of average build it correlates reasonably with body fat. It becomes unreliable for athletes, for older adults who have lost muscle, for pregnant women, and at the extremes of height. If your result seems inconsistent with how you look and feel, body fat percentage and waist measurement will describe you better.
Why does my BMI say overweight when I look fine?
BMI relates weight to height and cannot distinguish muscle from fat. A waist-to-height ratio below 0.5 does not prove that BMI is wrong or establish that someone is healthy. Consider the measures together with medical history and other relevant findings; ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure how to interpret them.
Should I use the Asian BMI chart?
If you are of Asian or South Asian descent, yes — that is the WHO's own recommendation, and several national health services apply it clinically. The evidence is that these populations develop metabolic disease at lower BMI values, so the standard thresholds understate risk. It is not a different calculation, only different action points on the same number.
What is a healthy weight for my height?
The calculator shows the range directly — at 175 cm it is 56.7 to below 76.6 kg on the international chart. That is nearly 20 kg wide, which is the point: there is no single correct weight for a height. Frame, muscle and composition all vary. Where in that range you feel and perform best is the useful answer, and it is individual.
Is waist measurement really better than BMI?
Waist measurements provide additional information about central adiposity. They are indirect estimates, not a direct measurement of body fat or a diagnosis. Interpret them with BMI and the relevant guidance rather than treating one number as a complete assessment.
Can I use this for a child?
Not with adult categories. Under 20, BMI has to be read as a percentile against children of the same age and sex, because healthy values change continuously through growth. The calculation is the same but the interpretation is entirely different, and applying adult bands gives a misleading answer. Use your paediatrician's growth charts and discuss any concern with them.
Is my data stored?
This tool calculates locally in your browser. Its calculation does not require uploading your height, weight or waist values. Site advertising and analytics have separate processing; see our Privacy Policy.
Does BMI apply during pregnancy?
No. BMI categories are not valid during pregnancy — weight gain is expected and its healthy range depends on your pre-pregnancy BMI, not your current one. The relevant tool is Pregnancy Weight Gain, which uses your pre-pregnancy figure and current week. Any concern about weight during pregnancy belongs with your midwife or doctor.
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