Free tool · Adults 18+
BMI calculator
Checked against the Indian cut-offs. A healthy BMI for Indian adults is 18.5 to 22.9, lower than the international 24.9, because we tend to carry more body fat at the same weight.
Your BMI
Example24.2kg/m²
Overweight · Grade I
- Healthy weight for your height
- 52.0 – 64.4 kg
- To reach a healthy BMI
- Lose about 3.6 kg
- By international (WHO) cut-offs
- Normal18.5 – 24.9
- Waist
- Waist-to-height ratio
Above the healthy range for Indians. India’s 2025 obesity guideline treats a BMI over 23 as excess body fat. Your waist size and any health conditions decide how serious it is.
Indian BMI categories
Grades from the 2025 revised definition of obesity for Asian Indians, by the India Obesity Commission.
| Category | BMI (kg/m²) |
|---|---|
| Underweight | Below 18.5 |
| Normal | 18.5 – 22.9 |
| Overweight · Grade I | 23.0 – 24.9 |
| Obesity · Grade II | 25.0 – 27.5 |
| Obesity · Grade III | 27.6 – 32.4 |
| Obesity · Grade IV | 32.5 and above |
For comparison, the international WHO cut-offs are: normal 18.5–24.9, overweight 25–29.9, obese 30 and above.
Good to know
Why are the Indian cut-offs lower than the international ones?
At the same BMI, Indians usually carry more body fat than people of European descent, much of it around the belly. Diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease also show up at lower BMIs. That is why Indian guidelines put the top of the healthy range at 22.9 instead of 24.9. The WHO itself recommends lower action points for Asian populations.
What do “Stage 1” and “Stage 2” obesity mean?
India’s 2025 guideline treats a BMI above 23 as excess body fat, then splits it into two stages.
Stage 1: extra fat, but no effect yet on health or daily life. Stage 2: a BMI above 23 plus a large waist (or waist-to-height ratio), together with either a related condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or fatty liver, or symptoms such as breathlessness or knee pain during everyday activities.
Only a doctor can stage you. This calculator shows where your numbers sit.
I lift weights. Is BMI accurate for me?
Not always. BMI can’t tell muscle from fat, so people with a lot of muscle can score high while being lean. Your waist size or the body fat calculator will give you a better read.
Can children and teenagers use this?
No. Under-18s are still growing, so doctors use age- and sex-specific BMI charts instead of adult cut-offs. In India these are the IAP growth charts. It is also not meant for use during pregnancy.
How do I measure my waist properly?
Stand straight and look ahead. Breathe out normally, then wrap a non-stretch tape around your middle, level with the floor, just above the top of your hip bones. Keep it snug against the skin without pressing in. Measuring before breakfast gives the most consistent reading.
Sources
- Misra A, et al. Revised definition of obesity in Asian Indians living in India. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews 2025;19:102989. doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2024.102989
- Misra A, et al. Consensus statement for diagnosis of obesity, abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome for Asian Indians. J Assoc Physicians India 2009;57:163–70. PubMed
- WHO Expert Consultation. Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations. The Lancet 2004;363:157–63. PubMed
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