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What's a healthy BMI and waist in Australia?

Check your BMI and waist against the Australian cut-offs, including the lower ones for Asian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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Height
How to measure your waist
  1. Find the bottom of your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone. Put the tape around your waist halfway between them.4
  2. Keep the tape level and snug, but not digging into your skin.4
  3. Breathe normally, and read it after you breathe out.4
Sex (sets the waist cut-off)
Ethnic background (sets which cut-offs apply)

Adult ranges are for ages 18 and over.

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Your result

--.-BMI

Add your height and weight to see your result.

Your BMI will show on the scale above, with both sets of Australian cut-offs side by side.

Why we say this

  1. BMI is weight in kg divided by height in metres, squared.9
  2. Australian Obesity Management Algorithm (2024), standard cut-offs: healthy 18.5 to 24.9, overweight 25 to 29.9, obesity 30 or more (class II from 35, class III from 40).1
  3. Lower cut-offs for Asian people, also recommended for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: overweight 23 to 27.4, obesity 27.5 or more, class II from 32.5 and class III from 37.5.1
  4. Waist: women 80 to 88 cm increased risk and over 88 cm abdominal obesity; men 94 to 102 cm and over 102 cm. For Asian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: women over 80 cm, men over 90 cm.1

Sources checked 12 Oct 2026. Full list below.

How this works

BMI (body mass index) is your weight in kg divided by your height in metres, squared.9 You can type feet and inches, or pounds; we turn them into cm and kg first (1 inch = 2.54 cm, 1 pound = 0.4536 kg).

We compare your BMI with the cut-offs in the Australian Obesity Management Algorithm, published in 2024 by the Australian Diabetes Society with the obesity societies of Australia and New Zealand and the RACGP.1 Australia's 2013 national obesity guideline has been rescinded, and a new one went to public consultation in late 2024; we found no final version.2,10

The algorithm has two sets. The standard set calls a BMI of 25 to 29.9 overweight and 30 or more obesity. For Asian people, and as recommended for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it uses lower cut-offs: 23 to 27.4 is overweight and 27.5 or more is obesity.1 These groups tend to carry more body fat at the same BMI.1 A study of 1.5 million people in England found South Asian adults at a BMI of about 24 had the same type 2 diabetes risk as white adults at 30,5 and a WHO expert group found in 2004 that many Asian people face higher diabetes and heart risk below a BMI of 25.6

Your waist adds what BMI misses: fat around the middle. The algorithm's waist cut-offs differ for women and men, and are lower for Asian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, so we ask both.1

What it meansStandardAsian, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander
HealthyBMI 18.5 to 24.91BMI 18.5 to 22.91
OverweightBMI 25 to 29.91BMI 23 to 27.41
ObesityBMI 30 or more1BMI 27.5 or more1
Waist, women80 to 88 cm increased, over 88 cm abdominal obesity1Over 80 cm1
Waist, men94 to 102 cm increased, over 102 cm abdominal obesity1Over 90 cm1

What this can't tell you

  • How much of your weight is fat or muscle.3
  • Whether extra weight is already affecting your health. That needs a check-up, not a calculator.7
  • Anything about children or teenagers, or during pregnancy.3
  • Whether you need any treatment. A GP looks at your whole health and decides with you.1

Questions people ask

Why are there lower BMI cut-offs for some Australians?

People of Asian background, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, tend to carry more body fat at the same BMI, so weight-related problems such as type 2 diabetes start at a lower BMI. The Australian Obesity Management Algorithm uses lower cut-offs for Asian people, and recommends them for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.1 A study of 1.5 million people in England found South Asian adults at a BMI of about 24 had the same type 2 diabetes risk as white adults at 30.5

Which groups use the lower cut-offs?

The algorithm names South Asian, South-East Asian and East Asian people, and recommends the same cut-offs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For them, overweight starts at a BMI of 23 and obesity at 27.5. Obesity classes II and III start at 32.5 and 37.5.1

What waist size is healthy?

For most adults, the algorithm counts a waist of 80 to 88 cm in women, or 94 to 102 cm in men, as increased risk, and over 88 cm in women or over 102 cm in men as abdominal obesity. For Asian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the cut-offs are lower: over 80 cm in women and over 90 cm in men.1

Is BMI accurate if I'm muscular or older?

Not always. BMI can't tell fat from muscle.3 Muscular people can read as overweight, and older adults who have lost muscle can have a BMI that hides extra fat.8,3 Your waist helps in both cases.

Does a high BMI mean I need a weight-loss medicine?

No. BMI and waist describe health risk. The Australian Obesity Management Algorithm uses BMI, waist and weight-related health problems together to set a weight-loss target and plan care.1 A GP decides after looking at your whole health. Guide 3 covers all the options.

Can I use this for my child or teenager?

No. Adult BMI ranges are for people aged 18 and over. For children and teenagers, BMI is compared with growth charts for their age and sex.3 A GP can plot the result.

Weight and health Your options Should I consider a GLP-1? Before you see your GP BMI cut-offs for Asian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians Considering it for weight

Sources

  1. Australian Diabetes Society, with ANZOS, ANZMOSS and the RACGP. Australian Obesity Management Algorithm, July 2024: Table 2 (BMI and waist cut-offs; "Cut-offs apply to Asian population and recommended for Australian indigenous population") and section 3.1.1. diabetessociety.com.au
  2. National Health and Medical Research Council. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity (2013): marked "Rescinded". Checked 12 Oct 2026. nhmrc.gov.au
  3. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About body mass index (BMI): what BMI can and can't show, and BMI-for-age charts for children and teens. Updated 16 December 2025. cdc.gov
  4. World Cancer Research Fund. How to measure your waist. Checked 12 Oct 2026. wcrf.org
  5. Caleyachetty R et al. Ethnicity-specific BMI cutoffs for obesity based on type 2 diabetes risk in England: a population-based cohort study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2021;9:419–26. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(21)00088-7
  6. WHO Expert Consultation. Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies. Lancet 2004;363:157–63. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)15268-3
  7. Rubino F et al. Definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity (Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission). Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2025;13:221–62. Declared interests: most of the 56 authors declare payments from Novo Nordisk, and many also from Eli Lilly (paper's own declaration). doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(24)00316-4
  8. Batsis JA, Villareal DT. Sarcopenic obesity in older adults: aetiology, epidemiology and treatment strategies. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2018;14:513–37. doi:10.1038/s41574-018-0062-9
  9. Knowler WC et al.; Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. N Engl J Med 2002;346:393–403 (defines BMI as kg divided by metres squared). doi:10.1056/NEJMoa012512
  10. Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Public consultation on the clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity, 3 December 2024 (survey open until 16 December 2024). health.gov.au

Last checked 12 Oct 2026 · Next review due Jan 2027

How this tool was made. Built by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above. It's general information, not medical advice. Talk to your GP before starting, stopping or changing any treatment. In an emergency, call 000. How we write