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BMI Calculator · India (ICMR)
BMI for Indian body composition.
The same BMI formula — but read against the Indian / South-Asian thresholds (overweight ≥ 23, obese ≥ 25), not the WHO global numbers. South Asians develop diabetes and heart disease at lower BMIs, so the action zone shifts five points down.
BMI is a quick screen, not a verdict. It can't tell muscle from fat — for athletes use the body-fat calculator instead.
Enter your weight and height, then tap Calculate BMI to see your BMI and which WHO category it falls in. We also surface the South Asian threshold in case it applies to you.
Why India needs different BMI cut-offs
India's adult population shows the same BMI distribution as many European populations, but with significantly higher rates of type-2 diabetes, fatty liver, and metabolic syndrome at any given BMI. The South Asian phenotype — first described in landmark Lancet papers in the early 2000s — explains it: more visceral (belly-organ) fat, less subcutaneous fat, less skeletal muscle on average compared to European populations of the same BMI.
The ICMR / WHO South-East Asia thresholds
What the "action zone" (BMI 23–25) means
If your BMI is 23–24.9, the WHO chart says you're normal but ICMR flags you as overweight. In practice this is the band where most Indian adults first see their fasting glucose, triglycerides, and waist circumference drift. The fix is gradual — 250–500 kcal below maintenance, more strength work, more protein — not a crash diet. The metabolic risk doesn't go up sharply at 23; it climbs slowly from here, and slowing the climb is enough to keep your bloodwork clean for decades.
Waist circumference: the second number to track
For Indian adults the waist cut-offs are 90 cm (men) and 80 cm (women) — distinctly tighter than the global 102 / 88. If your BMI is borderline but your waist is over those numbers, the visceral fat is real and the risk is real even if BMI "looks fine".
Going beyond BMI? Body fat % and TDEE give you a fuller picture. For a coach-built plan that uses your actual numbers, take the 4-minute assessment.
For the global WHO interpretation, see our main BMI calculator page.
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