Asian BMI Calculator
BMI calculator using the WHO Asia-Pacific cut-offs for Asian adults — overweight from 23, obese from 25 — as used clinically in Thailand, with the standard WHO scale for comparison.
BMI — Asia-Pacific classification (WHO WPRO 2000)
22.5
Normal weight
How this is calculated
BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. The primary category is looked up against the WHO Asia-Pacific classification (WPRO, 2000) — lower cutoffs than the standard global WHO thresholds — and the standard classification is shown alongside it for comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Why does this use different cutoffs than BMI calculators I've seen elsewhere?
Many global BMI calculators use the standard WHO classification (overweight from 25, obese from 30). This tool leads with the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office's Asia-Pacific classification (WPRO, 2000) instead, with lower cutoffs (overweight from 23, obese from 25) — the classification generally used clinically in Thailand and the wider region, since research shows Asian populations face higher health risks at lower BMI values than Western populations. The standard global classification is also shown for comparison.
Is there another Asia-specific BMI standard besides this one?
Yes — a 2004 WHO Expert Consultation paper in The Lancet proposed a related but distinct pair of BMI "action points" for Asian populations: 23 as a trigger for increased-risk monitoring, and 27.5 as a trigger for high-risk intervention. Those action points are used for public health decision-making rather than as a full replacement classification, so this tool uses the WPRO 2000 categories above as its primary scale.
Is BMI a reliable measure of health on its own?
No — BMI doesn't distinguish muscle from fat and doesn't account for body composition, so it's a rough screening tool rather than a diagnosis. Consult a doctor for a fuller picture of your health.