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Lesson 1 of 5
What is BMI?
Direct answer: Body Mass Index (BMI) is your weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height in metres. WHO considers 18.5 to 25 normal for adults, but ICMR-NIN recommends 18.5 to 23 for Asians, who tend to carry more body fat at a given BMI. A BMI over 23 to 27.5 is overweight by Asian cut-offs.
BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
How do I calculate BMI?
Weight (kg) ÷ height (m) ÷ height (m). For example, 65kg at 1.70m is 65 ÷ 2.89, about 22.5.
Why are Asian cut-offs different?
ICMR-NIN notes Asians tend to have a higher percentage of body fat at a given BMI.
Is BMI the full picture?
No. ICMR-NIN also flags fat around the abdomen (central obesity). A doctor can assess you properly.
FAQ
Does BMI apply to teenagers?
ICMR-NIN uses different, age- and gender-specific measures for children and adolescents.
What if my BMI is outside the range?
Talk to a doctor or dietitian.
Further reading
Sources
- ICMR-NIN Expert Committee, Dietary Guidelines for Indians-2024 (DGI 2024), nin.res.in/dietaryguidelines/pdfjs/locale/DGI_2024.pdf, Guideline 9, PDF pp. 79–80 / printed pp. 62–63
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Nutrition and body weight: all 5 lessons
General education, not medical advice.
Educational content, not medical advice. Checked against FSSAI and ICMR-NIN sources by Team Snactivate. For personal advice, consult a doctor or dietitian.