Overweight Calculator
Check if you are overweight by WHO and Asia-Pacific BMI cutoffs, and see your excess weight in kilograms.
Your BMI
27.8
Overweight (WHO) · Obese (Asia-Pacific)
Upper healthy weight
76.6 kg
WHO BMI 24.9; Asia-Pacific: 22.9 (22.9 → 66.2 kg at 170 cm)
Excess vs WHO limit
8.4 kg
Over the WHO healthy range
Excess vs Asia-Pacific limit
14.6 kg
Over the Asia-Pacific range
BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. The Asia-Pacific cutoffs (overweight at BMI 23) are widely used in India as they better reflect fat-related risk. Muscle mass can raise BMI without added risk.
Last updated: February 2026
How this calculator is verified
Checked by True Calculator automated test suite on
- Formula verified against a published worked example in the automated test suite
- Edge cases (zero, negative, boundary and unit-mismatch inputs) covered by unit tests
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When to Use This Calculator
Use the overweight calculator when you want an honest, dual-scale reading of where your weight stands — particularly useful in India, where the Asia-Pacific cutoffs (overweight at BMI 23) are considered more predictive of risk than the WHO thresholds. The tool is a natural part of a health check-up routine: with two numbers you get your BMI, your label on both scales, and exactly how many kilograms sit above each healthy ceiling, which turns vague worry into a concrete reference. Dietitians and fitness trainers find it a helpful opening for goal setting, and anyone starting a weight-loss programme can use the excess-weight figure as an initial milestone. It remains a screening tool — muscle mass, age and fat distribution all deserve attention alongside it.
How to Use This Calculator
- Step 1: Enter your height in centimetres for the weight assessment.
- Step 2: Enter your weight in kilograms so the tool can compare it against healthy ranges.
- Step 3: Read your BMI and its label on both the WHO and Asia-Pacific scales.
- Step 4: Check the excess weight figures to see how far above the healthy limits you are.
Worked Example
A 175 cm, 85 kg man has a BMI of 27.8: 'overweight' by the WHO scale and 'obese' by the Asia-Pacific scale used widely in India. His upper healthy weight by WHO is 76.3 kg, so his excess is about 8.7 kg; by the Asia-Pacific ceiling of 70.1 kg the excess is 14.9 kg. At 170 cm and 72 kg, the BMI is 24.9 — normal by WHO but already 'overweight' by Asia-Pacific standards, with 5.8 kg above that stricter limit. The dual-scale view is the whole point: it catches risk the WHO range can miss in South Asians.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- •Tip 1: Also measure your waist — belly fat predicts metabolic risk even beyond BMI.
- •Tip 2: Set a first goal of losing 5–10% of body weight; it improves blood pressure and sugar control measurably.
- •Tip 3: Recheck every 4–6 weeks, since BMI changes slowly and weekly checks only invite noise.
- ✗Mistake 1: Crash dieting to 'fix' the excess quickly — gradual changes of 0.5 kg per week are far more sustainable.
- ✗Mistake 2: Ignoring the Asia-Pacific label because the WHO label says normal — the stricter scale exists because it predicts risk better for Indians.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I'm overweight?
Most screening uses BMI. By the WHO scale, BMI 25–29.9 is overweight and 30+ is obese. In India, many doctors use the Asia-Pacific scale where overweight starts at BMI 23 because South Asians carry more fat at the same BMI.
Why do the WHO and Asia-Pacific results differ?
The same BMI corresponds to different fat-related risk in different populations. A BMI of 24.9 is 'normal' by WHO but already 'overweight' by Asia-Pacific standards — both are shown so you can see both perspectives.
What does 'excess weight' in the results mean?
It is your current weight minus the upper limit of the healthy band — for example, 8.7 kg above the WHO upper limit for a 175 cm, 85 kg person. It is a reference figure, not a weight-loss target on its own.
Is BMI enough to judge my weight?
It is a useful screening tool but ignores muscle mass and where fat sits. Waist circumference (a marker of belly fat) adds real information, so consider both numbers before drawing conclusions.
What's a sensible way to move toward a healthy range?
Small, sustainable changes — a moderate calorie deficit, regular walking or strength training, and cutting added sugar and fried foods. Losing even 5–10% of body weight measurably improves blood pressure and sugar control.
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