BMI for Indians: Why the Standard Chart May Mislead You
Body Mass Index is the world’s most-used health screen — but the standard WHO cut-offs (25 = overweight, 30 = obese) were derived largely from European populations. Indians can carry significantly more body fat at lower BMIs.
The Indian BMI cut-offs
ICMR and the Indian Obesity guidelines recommend overweight ≥ 23 and obesity ≥ 25 for Indians. A BMI of 24 — ‘normal’ globally — already counts as overweight here.
Why body composition matters more
Two people at BMI 24 can have wildly different body-fat percentages. Track waist circumference (men < 90 cm, women < 80 cm) and body fat % alongside BMI.
BMI by age and sex
Older adults (65+) often live longer at slightly higher BMIs (23-30). For children and teens, use percentile charts, not adult cut-offs.
Beyond the number
Sleep, resting heart rate, blood pressure and HbA1c are stronger health predictors than BMI alone. Use BMI as one input — never the only one.
Final word
Use our BMI Calculator with the India-specific reading in mind, and pair it with body fat and ideal weight tools for a fuller picture.