Weight
Reading your BMI honestly, especially if you are South Asian
BMI is a screening number, not a verdict — and the healthy range is tighter for people of South Asian descent.
Nutrft nutrition team3 September 2026 4 min read
BMI compares your weight with your height. That is all it does. It is useful because it is quick and consistent, and misleading when it is treated as a diagnosis.
Why South Asian ranges are different
Research across South Asian populations found that metabolic risk — blood sugar, blood pressure, lipids — tends to begin at a lower body weight than in European populations. For that reason the commonly used thresholds are:
- Healthy range: 18.5 to 22.9
- Increased risk: 23 to 24.9
- Higher risk: 25 and above
The WHO global ranges place the same thresholds at 25 and 30. Both are shown side by side in our free calculator so you can see the gap for yourself.
What BMI cannot see
- Muscle. A strong, well-trained person can read as "overweight" and be metabolically healthy.
- Where you carry weight. Waist measurement adds more than BMI here.
- Nutrition quality, fitness, sleep and stress.
If your BMI is fine but your waist is more than half your height, the waist number is the one to act on.
What to do with the number
Use it as a prompt, not a score. Check it alongside your waist measurement, then decide whether you want a conversation about it. Nothing about your health is decided by one figure.
Want this applied to your own week?
A verified dietitian can turn this into a plan around the food you already eat, your schedule and your reports.
This article is general nutrition information for adults. It does not diagnose conditions or replace advice from your doctor. For symptoms, medication changes or urgent concerns, contact your treating doctor.