Asian BMI Calculator (WHO Asia-Pacific cut-offs)

Understanding the Asian BMI calculator — concept and principle

Body mass index (BMI) compares weight with height to screen for underweight, overweight and obesity in adults. The usual WHO cut-offs (overweight from 25, obese from 30) were built mainly on European data. Studies in Asian populations showed that type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk rise at lower BMI, so the WHO Western Pacific Region proposed lower Asia-Pacific cut-offs in 2000. This calculator shows your BMI under both scales and your 18.5–22.9 weight range.

The Asia-Pacific scale moves the lines lower, so BMI 24.49 reads “at risk” instead of “normal”.

How it is calculated

BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)²

Height in centimetres is divided by 100 first.
Asia-Pacific categories: under 18.5 underweight; 18.5–22.9 normal; 23–24.9 overweight (at risk); 25–29.9 obese I; 30 and above obese II.
WHO global categories: under 18.5 underweight; 18.5–24.9 normal; 25–29.9 overweight; 30 and above obese.
Healthy weight range: 18.5 × height² to 22.9 × height².

The principle

Dividing by height² lets short and tall adults be compared on one scale. BMI does not measure fat directly; it is a population screening tool. At the same BMI, many Asian adults carry a higher percentage of body fat and more abdominal fat than European adults, which is why risk appears earlier. A 2004 WHO expert consultation kept the global cut-offs as the international standard but added 23, 27.5, 32.5 and 37.5 as public-health action points for Asian populations. National bodies set their own lines: Korea and Japan both define obesity from a BMI of 25.

Worked example

Inputs: weight 75 kg, height 175 cm, so height = 1.75 m.
Height²: 1.75 × 1.75 = 3.0625.
BMI = 75 ÷ 3.0625 = 24.49.
Asia-Pacific: 23–24.9, so overweight (at risk). WHO global: 18.5–24.9, so normal.
Healthy range: 18.5 × 3.0625 = 56.7 kg to 22.9 × 3.0625 = 70.1 kg, shown as 56.7 – 70.1 kg.

Each point is the calculator re-run with only “Height (cm)” changed; the gold point is the default example. Change the inputs above and this chart follows your numbers.

Height (cm)	BMI
43.8	391.84
87.5	97.96
131	43.54
175	24.49
219	15.67
262	10.88
350	6.12

How to read the result

Where does your result fall?

A BMI of 23–24.9 under the Asia-Pacific scale is an early warning zone, not a disease. In this example, losing about 4.9 kg would bring BMI back to 22.9. Combine BMI with waist circumference: under Korean criteria abdominal obesity starts at 90 cm for men and 85 cm for women.

Common mistakes

Entering height in centimetres without converting to metres, which gives a BMI 10,000 times too small.
Applying adult cut-offs to children and teenagers, who need age- and sex-specific growth charts.

Keep in mind: BMI is a screening number, not a diagnosis. It does not separate fat from muscle and does not apply during pregnancy. Discuss your results with a doctor, especially if you have other risk factors.

Frequently asked questions

Which cut-off should I use if I am of Asian descent living abroad?

The Asia-Pacific scale reflects your risk profile better, but follow the guidance used by your doctor or national health service.

What is the obesity cut-off in Korea?

25. Korean guidelines call 23–24.9 pre-obesity and 25 and above obesity.

Is BMI the same for men and women?

Yes, the formula and adult cut-offs are the same for both sexes.

Sources: WHO Western Pacific Region, IASO and IOTF, The Asia-Pacific Perspective: Redefining Obesity and Its Treatment (2000) · WHO Expert Consultation, Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations, The Lancet 363 (2004) 157–163 · Korean Society for the Study of Obesity, Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity

Checked 8 Nov 2026. WHO Western Pacific Region (2000) The Asia-Pacific perspective; WHO Expert Consultation, Lancet 2004.

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