BMI Calculator
Work out your BMI and see where it falls against the Indian health guidelines, which use lower thresholds than the international standard.
Your BMI
24.2
Category
Overweight
Indian (ICMR) cut-offs
Healthy weight for your height
53–66 kg
A BMI of 24.2 is classed as Overweight under Indian guidelines. Above the healthy range for Indian adults.
Indian guidelines set the healthy BMI band at 18.5 to 23, lower than the WHO international band of 18.5 to 25, because South Asians tend to carry more visceral fat at any given BMI. BMI also ignores body composition, so it overstates risk for muscular people. It is a screening number, not a diagnosis — talk to a doctor about your own situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does India use a different BMI range?
Because South Asians develop diabetes and heart disease at lower body weights than Europeans, carrying more visceral fat at any given BMI. The ICMR and Ministry of Health therefore set the healthy band at 18.5 to 23, with obesity starting at 25 rather than 30.
How is BMI calculated?
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. A person of 70 kg and 1.7 m has a BMI of 70 ÷ (1.7 × 1.7), which is 24.2.
Is BMI reliable?
As a population screening tool, yes. For an individual it has real limits: it cannot distinguish muscle from fat, so athletes often register as overweight, and it says nothing about where fat is stored. Waist circumference is a better single indicator of metabolic risk.
What waist measurement is healthy for Indians?
Indian guidelines put the cut-off at 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women, again lower than Western thresholds. Abdominal fat matters more for diabetes risk than overall weight.
What should I do if my BMI is outside the healthy range?
Treat it as a prompt for a conversation with a doctor, not a diagnosis. BMI is one input among many — blood pressure, blood sugar, lipid profile and waist circumference together give a far more useful picture.