BMI calculator, built for Indian bodies.

Why the numbers are different for Indians

The standard international BMI thresholds treat 25 as the start of the overweight range and 30 as the start of obesity. But research across South Asian and other Asian populations found that the health risks usually associated with those numbers (type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease) tend to appear at lower BMI values. Body composition differs: at the same BMI, Indians on average carry a higher proportion of body fat, and more of it around the abdomen.

Because of that, the thresholds recommended for Indian and other Asian populations are lower. This calculator uses those:

• Below 18.5: below the healthy range
• 18.5 to 22.9: within the healthy range
• 23 to 24.9: above the healthy range
• 25 and above: well above the healthy range

If you've used another BMI calculator and got a different category for the same number, this is usually why.

How the healthy weight range is worked out

It's the weight range that would put you inside a BMI of 18.5 to 22.9 at your current height. It's a range rather than a single "ideal weight" because there isn't one correct number, a healthy weight sits across a band, and where you sit inside it depends on your build, muscle mass, and what feels sustainable for you.

How the body fat estimate works

The body fat figure comes from a formula that estimates body fat percentage from BMI, age, and sex. It's a statistical estimate drawn from population averages, not a measurement of your body. Methods that actually measure body composition, like DEXA scans or skinfold calipers, will give you a different and more accurate number. Treat this as a rough indicator, useful for spotting a general direction rather than tracking small changes.

What BMI doesn't tell you

BMI is a screening tool, and a fairly blunt one. It uses only height and weight, so it can't tell muscle from fat, which is why athletes and people who lift regularly often read as "overweight" despite low body fat. It also doesn't account for where fat is distributed, which matters more for health risk than the total. And it isn't a meaningful measure during pregnancy, or for people with certain medical conditions.

A number from this page isn't a diagnosis and isn't a reason to make a drastic change to how you eat. If something here concerns you, or you want to act on it, speak to a doctor or a registered dietitian who can look at the full picture.

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