BMI Calculator
BMI Calculator by Ethnicity
WHO BMI Cut-offs for Adults (BMI in kg/m²)
| Category | BMI Range |
|---|---|
| Underweight | < 18.5 |
| Normal weight | 18.5 – 24.9 |
| Overweight | ≥ 25.0 |
| Pre-obese | 25.0 – 29.9 |
| Obese Class I | 30.0 – 34.9 |
| Obese Class II | 35.0 – 39.9 |
| Obese Class III (Severe Obesity) | ≥ 40.0 |
Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
This calculator helps with categorizing an individual by their BMI adjusted for Ethnicity. The above figure shows how a South Asian person will end up withe equivalent Type-2 diabetes risk at only a BMI of 23.9 while a White person will have the same risk at a much higher BMI of 30. It illustrates how the current WHO definition of obesity based on a BMI cut-off of 30 can significantly underestimate diabetes risk when applied to non-White populations.
References:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8208895/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35533384/