BMI cut-offs for Asian adults: why 23 matters
For people of South Asian, Chinese and other Asian backgrounds, health risks rise at a lower BMI. The 23 and 27.5 cut-offs, their origin and how to use them.
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Tools for this job: BMI Calculator · Weight Converter
The standard BMI categories, with overweight starting at 25 and obesity at 30, were developed largely from data on people of European descent. For many people of Asian descent, the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease starts rising at a noticeably lower BMI. Several health bodies therefore recommend lower cut-offs.
The lower thresholds
| Category | Standard | Asian |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy | 18.5–24.9 | 18.5–22.9 |
| Overweight / increased risk | 25–29.9 | 23–27.4 |
| Obesity / high risk | 30 and over | 27.5 and over |
A World Health Organization expert consultation in 2004 identified 23 and 27.5 as public health action points for Asian populations. UK guidance from NICE uses 23 and 27.5 for people of South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean family background. Indian consensus guidelines go further and treat a BMI of 25 or more as obesity.
What it means in practice
Take someone 170 cm tall weighing 70 kg. Their BMI is 24.2. On the standard chart they are in the healthy range. On the lower cut-offs, they are in the increased-risk band. For a 170 cm adult, the upper end of the healthy range on the lower cut-offs is about 66 kg rather than 72 kg.
Use the calculator with the right thresholds
- Enter your height and weight in the BMI Calculator.
- Note the BMI number itself. The calculation is the same for everyone.
- Compare the number with the lower cut-offs above rather than the standard category label if they apply to you.
Why the risk differs
Research suggests that, at the same BMI, many people of South Asian descent carry more body fat and more of it around the abdomen and internal organs than people of European descent. That visceral fat is linked to insulin resistance. It is a population pattern, not a rule for every individual.
Waist size is especially useful
Because the concern is fat around the middle, waist measurement adds a lot of information. Indian and International Diabetes Federation guidance for South Asian adults uses waist thresholds of about 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women. A waist-to-height ratio under 0.5, meaning a waist less than half your height, is a simple check that works across backgrounds.
What to do with the result
- A BMI in the 23–27.5 band is a reason to pay attention, not to panic. Small, sustained changes in diet and activity reduce risk.
- Ask about a diabetes check, such as an HbA1c blood test, especially with a family history or a large waist.
- Muscle still counts: a very muscular person may have a high BMI with low risk.
For the standard ranges and what BMI misses, see what your BMI means. For weight ranges by height, see healthy weight for my height.