BMI on the lower Asian / Indian cut-offs most calculators skip, or the standard WHO scale. Metric or feet and pounds, instant.
22.5
| CATEGORY | ASIAN / INDIAN BMI | WHO BMI |
|---|---|---|
| Underweight | Under 18.5 | Under 18.5 |
| Healthy | 18.5 – 22.9 | 18.5 – 24.9 |
| Overweight | 23 – 24.9 | 25 – 29.9 |
| Obese | 25 and over | 30 and over |
BMI is a quick screening number, not a diagnosis. It can't tell muscle from fat, so athletes often read "overweight". Talk to a doctor for the real picture.
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Lower cut-offs from the WHO for Asian people: underweight under 18.5, healthy 18.5 to 22.9, overweight 23 to 24.9, obese 25 or more. India, China, Japan, Singapore and most of Asia use them.
At the same BMI, South and East Asian people tend to carry more body fat, especially around the belly, so diabetes and heart risk start earlier. A BMI of 23 in an Asian adult carries roughly the risk of 25 on the standard scale.
Indian guidelines follow the Asian scale: 18.5 to 22.9 is healthy, 23 to 24.9 is overweight and 25 or more is obese. So 24 is fine on a Western calculator but overweight for an Indian adult.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. 65 kg at 1.70 m is 65 ÷ 2.89 = 22.5. The formula is the same for everyone, only the category cut-offs change.
On the standard WHO scale, 18.5 to 24.9 is healthy, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 or more is obese. Under 18.5 is underweight.
It is a quick screening number. It cannot tell muscle from fat, so muscular people read high, and it does not apply to children or pregnancy.