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BMI Calculator
Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a quick way to check whether your weight is in a reasonable range for your height. Doctors have used it for decades as a first-pass screen, mostly because it's cheap and takes ten seconds to calculate. Punch in your height and weight below and you'll get your number instantly. No account, no email, nothing to sign up for.
The formula itself is old — a Belgian statistician named Adolphe Quetelet came up with it in the 1830s, long before anyone was thinking about diabetes or heart disease the way we do now. It's stuck around because it works well enough across large groups of people, not because it's especially precise for any one individual. Treat your result as something to bring up with a doctor or dietitian, not as the final word on your health.
Healthy weight range for your height
56.7 – 76.3 kg
How BMI is calculated
BMI uses a formula published by the World Health Organization:
For example, a person weighing 70 kg at 1.75 m tall has a BMI of 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = 22.9, which falls in the "normal weight" band.
WHO BMI categories (adults)
| BMI | Category | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight | May indicate insufficient nutrition — consider a diet review |
| 18.5 – 24.9 | Normal weight | Associated with the lowest risk of weight-related health issues |
| 25.0 – 29.9 | Overweight | Increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension |
| 30.0 and above | Obese | Significantly higher risk — consult a doctor for a management plan |
Why BMI matters for your health
A BMI that sits well outside the normal range is usually one of the first, cheapest clues a doctor has that something might need attention. On the higher end it's linked to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and joint problems. On the lower end, it can point to nutrient deficiency or a weaker immune system. None of that means a high or low BMI diagnoses anything by itself — it's more of a flag than a verdict, especially when you factor in things like family history or waist size alongside it.
Worth knowing if you're in India: several researchers have pointed out that South Asians tend to run into metabolic issues like insulin resistance at lower BMI numbers than Western populations do. Because of this, some doctors here use 23 as the "overweight" cutoff instead of the standard 25. If your number lands somewhere between 23 and 25, it's probably worth a conversation with a doctor rather than assuming you're fine.
Where BMI falls short
No single number tells the whole story, and BMI is no exception. A few things it simply can't see:
- Muscle versus fat. A rugby player and someone who never exercises can land on the exact same BMI at the same height and weight, despite looking nothing alike.
- Where the fat sits. Fat around the belly carries more risk than fat elsewhere, and BMI has no way of knowing which one you have. The waist-to-height ratio fills that gap.
- Older age. As people lose muscle over the years, their BMI can stay "normal" even while body fat quietly climbs.
- Kids and teens. Growing bodies don't fit adult cutoffs — that's what the child mode above is for.
- Pregnancy. Healthy weight gain during pregnancy pushes BMI up on purpose, so the metric doesn't really apply during that window.
This tool provides a general estimate for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual results vary based on factors this calculator doesn't measure (body composition, medical conditions, medications). Always consult a doctor or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or exercise routine.
Your BMI is one input among many AaharIQ uses to personalize your food scan results and diet recommendations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Somewhere between 18.5 and 24.9 for most adults, according to the WHO. That range is tied to the lowest average risk of weight-related health problems across large populations.