Body mass index from height and weight

BMI calculator

Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) from your height and weight.

Formula

BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)²

Assumptions

• Defaults to the Asian cut-offs (pre-obese at 23, obese at 27.5) from WHO's 2004 expert consultation and the Malaysian MOH clinical practice guideline, rather than the international 25 and 30 — Asian populations tend to carry more body fat and face higher cardiometabolic risk at the same BMI.
• BMI is a population-level screening tool — it does not account for muscle mass, bone density, age, sex, or body composition, and is not a diagnosis.
• This is informational only and is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for individual health guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Is BMI accurate for athletes or very muscular people?
Not reliably — BMI can't distinguish muscle from fat, so muscular individuals are often classified as "overweight" or "obese" despite having low body fat.

Does BMI mean the same thing at every age?
No — BMI bands were developed for adults and interpret differently for children, teens, and older adults, who are assessed against age and sex percentiles instead. This calculator uses adult bands only.

Why are the Asian cut-offs lower than the ones I see elsewhere?
At the same BMI, Asian populations tend to have a higher body fat percentage and greater risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease than the populations WHO's international bands were derived from. WHO's 2004 expert consultation recommended 23 and 27.5 as additional public-health action points, and Malaysian MOH guidance uses them. Switch the toggle to compare against the international bands.

Sources

• WHO — Body mass index
• WHO expert consultation — BMI cut-off points for Asian populations