BMI Calculator
CalculatorsYour BMI against both WHO and Indian ICMR thresholds — they are not the same.
Your BMI
22.9
BMI Prime 0.91
weight (kg) ÷ height (m)² · Prime = BMI ÷ 25
WHO (international)
Normal
Healthy weight for your height: 56.7–76.6 kg
ICMR (India)
Normal
Healthy weight for your height: 56.7–70.4 kg
BMI is a population screening measure, not a diagnosis. It ignores body composition, muscle mass, age and sex. Speak to a doctor about your health.
How this is calculated
Metric BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)^2 Imperial BMI = 703 x weight (lb) / height (in)^2
Read this before you rely on the number
This is a screening figure, not a diagnosis.
BMI is a population screening measure, not a diagnosis. It cannot tell muscle from fat, and it reads badly for athletes, pregnant women, children, the elderly and anyone with an unusual frame. A figure in any category is a reason to talk to a doctor, not a conclusion to act on by yourself. The Indian ICMR cut-offs are lower than the WHO ones because cardiometabolic risk appears at a lower BMI in South Asian populations — that is why both are shown rather than one.
Rates taken from
- WHO — Obesity and overweight fact sheet · checked 6 September 2026
- WHO expert consultation — BMI cut-offs for Asian populations · checked 6 September 2026
Report an error in this tool
How it works
BMI compares your weight to your height. It is a rough screening measure, not a measurement of body fat, and it was designed to describe populations rather than individuals — a fact worth keeping in mind before reading too much into a single number.
The classification thresholds are where this calculator differs from most. The WHO table was derived largely from European populations. Indian guidelines from the ICMR use lower cut-offs, because cardiometabolic risk — type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease — rises at a lower BMI in South Asian populations. Under WHO thresholds a BMI of 24 is normal; under Indian thresholds it is overweight.
That gap between 23 and 25 is not a rounding detail. It covers a large number of people who would be told they are fine by an international calculator and are not, by the guidelines their own doctor uses. Both tables are shown here side by side for exactly that reason.
Worked example
A person 175 cm tall weighing 72 kg
- height in metres = 175 / 100 = 1.75
- 1.75^2 = 3.0625
- BMI = 72 / 3.0625 = 23.5
- WHO table: 18.5 to 24.9 is normal
- ICMR table: 23.0 to 24.9 is overweight
BMI 23.5 — normal by WHO, overweight by Indian ICMR guidelines
| Category | WHO range | ICMR (India) range |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
How to use it
- Choose metric or imperial units.
- Enter your height and weight.
- Read your BMI along with both classifications. Where they disagree, the ICMR reading is the more relevant one in India.
- The healthy weight range shown for each table tells you the weight band that would place you in the normal category at your height.
What this tool does not do
- BMI cannot distinguish muscle from fat. Athletes frequently register as overweight or obese.
- It says nothing about where fat is carried, which matters more for health than the total.
- It is not valid for children, pregnant women, or the very elderly.
- It is a screening measure, not a diagnosis. Nothing here is medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is a healthy BMI in India?
Indian ICMR guidelines put the normal range at 18.5 to 22.9. Above 23 is considered overweight and above 25 obese. These thresholds are lower than the international WHO ones of 25 and 30, because health risks appear at a lower BMI in South Asian populations.
Why do Indian BMI thresholds differ from WHO thresholds?
South Asians tend to carry more visceral fat and have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease at any given BMI. Indian bodies including the ICMR therefore set lower cut-offs so that risk is flagged earlier.
Is BMI accurate?
It is a useful screening tool for populations and a rough guide for individuals. It cannot tell muscle from fat, so a muscular athlete can register as overweight, and it does not account for where fat is carried, which matters for health. Waist circumference is often a better individual indicator.
What is BMI Prime?
BMI Prime is your BMI divided by 25, the upper limit of the WHO normal range. A value below 1 means you are within the normal range on that table; 1.2 means you are 20% above the upper limit.
Does BMI work for children?
Not with these tables. Children and teenagers are assessed against age- and sex-specific percentile charts, because body composition changes with growth. Use a paediatric BMI chart instead.
Does BMI apply differently to men and women?
The BMI formula and thresholds are the same for both. Women typically carry a higher percentage of body fat at the same BMI, which is one of several reasons BMI is a screening measure rather than a diagnosis.
What should I do if my BMI is outside the healthy range?
Treat it as a prompt to talk to a doctor, not as a diagnosis. They can look at waist measurement, blood pressure, blood sugar, lipids and your history — all of which say more about your health than BMI alone.
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Last updated 3 September 2026.