Health
BMI for Indians: Why the Healthy Range Is Lower
Indian vs global BMI cut-offs, a healthy-weight chart by height, and why your waist size matters as much as the scale.
By Team Vind · Updated · 5 min read
Most BMI charts online use the WHO's global cut-offs, where “overweight” starts at 25. For Indians, that's too late. Indians tend to carry more body fat, and especially belly fat, at the same BMI, and develop diabetes and heart disease at lower weights. That's why Indian guidelines use lower cut-offs. Here's what they are, what your healthy weight is, and why your waist size matters too.
BMI cut-offs: global vs Indian
BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)²
| Category | WHO (global) | Indian guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Underweight | Below 18.5 | Below 18.5 |
| Normal | 18.5–24.9 | 18.5–22.9 |
| Overweight | 25–29.9 | 23–24.9 |
| Obese | 30 and above | 25 and above |
Take someone 165 cm tall weighing 66 kg: a BMI of 24.2. By the global chart that's “normal”; by the Indian one it's already overweight.
Your healthy weight by height
| Height | Healthy weight (Indian: BMI 18.5–22.9) | Overweight from (BMI 23) |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) | 42–52 kg | 52 kg |
| 155 cm (5 ft 1 in) | 44–55 kg | 55 kg |
| 160 cm (5 ft 3 in) | 47–59 kg | 59 kg |
| 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) | 50–62 kg | 63 kg |
| 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) | 53–66 kg | 66 kg |
| 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | 57–70 kg | 70 kg |
| 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | 60–74 kg | 75 kg |
| 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | 63–78 kg | 79 kg |
Try it: BMI Calculator
Your BMI
Why the cut-offs are lower for Indians
Large studies of South Asians found that the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease starts rising from a BMI of about 23, well below the global 25. At the same BMI, Indians on average have a higher share of body fat and more fat around the abdomen, the kind most linked to insulin resistance. The lower cut-offs are meant to catch that risk earlier.
In 2025, a group of Indian experts writing in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology went further. They proposed treating a BMI above 23 as the starting point for obesity itself, then grading it by belly fat and by whether it's already affecting health, for example knee pain, breathlessness or diabetes. The direction is clear: for Indians, waist and health matter as much as the scale.
Check your waist too
Measure around your waist at the navel, breathing out normally. For Asian Indians, the risk rises above:
- 90 cm (about 35.5 inches) for men
- 80 cm (about 31.5 inches) for women
What BMI can't tell you
- It doesn't separate muscle from fat, so athletes can score high while being healthy.
- It isn't used the same way for children and teenagers, who are compared with growth charts.
- It's a screening number, not a diagnosis. For a fuller picture, try the body fat calculator and ask your doctor.
Want to change your weight? Start with your daily calorie needs from the calorie calculator or TDEE calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal BMI for Indians?
18.5 to 22.9. Indian guidelines treat 23–24.9 as overweight and 25 or more as obese.
Is BMI 24 good for an Indian?
By Indian cut-offs, 24 is overweight, even though the global chart calls it normal. Check your waist size and talk to a doctor about your risk.
What is the ideal waist size for Indian men and women?
Below 90 cm (about 35.5 inches) for men and below 80 cm (about 31.5 inches) for women. Above these, the risk of diabetes and heart disease rises.
Is BMI the same for men and women?
Yes, adults use the same formula and cut-offs. Women naturally carry more body fat at the same BMI, so waist size and body fat add useful detail.
Sources
- Misra A et al. Consensus statement on obesity for Asian Indians. J Assoc Physicians India, 2009
- World Health Organization: Obesity and overweight (fact sheet)
- Definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity in Asian Indians, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2025
Last reviewed: 10 October 2026