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Do I have obesity? Weight and health for Indians

What Indian BMI and waist numbers mean, why they are lower than the global ones, and which health problems they point to.

GLP Guidebook teamUpdated 5 Oct 202611 min read34 sourcesWritten from published sources
The short answer

For Indian adults, a BMI of 23 to 24.9 counts as overweight and 25 or more as obesity. That is lower than the global 25 and 30. Indians tend to carry more fat around the belly and get diabetes at lower weights. A waist of 90 cm (35.4 inches) (men) or 80 cm (31.5 inches) (women) also signals risk.

Key facts

Overweight (India)
BMI 23 to 24.91
Obesity (India)
BMI 25 or more (2009 consensus).1 A newer 2025 proposal counts a BMI above 23 as Stage 1 obesity.2
Waist that signals risk
90 cm (35.4 inches) or more in men, 80 cm (31.5 inches) or more in women2
How common
About 254 million Indians have obesity; 351 million carry excess belly fat3,4
What 5–10% loss does
Lowers diabetes risk and improves blood sugar, blood pressure and liver fat5,6,7
What it doesn't decide
Whether you need a medicine. That takes a full check-up.8
On this page
  1. Why are the numbers lower for Indians?
  2. How do I check my BMI and waist?
  3. When is BMI misleading?
  4. Do our diet and activity play a part?
  5. What are "clinical" and "pre-clinical" obesity?
  6. Which health problems are linked to extra weight?
  7. What does losing 5–10% of your weight do?
  8. Is obesity my fault?
  9. Questions people ask

Why are the numbers lower for Indians?

Indians tend to carry more body fat, and more of it around the belly, at the same weight as Europeans. So health risks start at a lower BMI.1

BMI (body mass index) is your weight compared with your height. The WHO's global cut-offs call a BMI of 25 overweight and 30 obesity.9 In 2004, a WHO expert group found that many Asians already face high diabetes and heart risk below 25.10

In 2009, Indian experts set lower cut-offs for Asian Indians. They also set waist limits for belly fat.1,2

What it meansIndia (Asian Indian cut-offs)WHO global cut-offs
OverweightBMI 23 to 24.91BMI 25 to 29.99
ObesityBMI 25 or more1BMI 30 or more9
Obesity, 2025 proposal (India Obesity Commission)BMI above 23, then sorted into Stage 1 or Stage 22No global equivalent
Belly fat (waist)90 cm (35.4 in) or more in men, 80 cm (31.5 in) or more in women2No single global figure. Cut-offs should suit your age, sex and ethnicity11

"Thin-fat" is common in India. Some people have a normal BMI but too much body fat. India's Endocrine Society (ESI) calls this the "thin-fat phenotype".8 In studies it was found in about 15% of people in Chennai and 16% in Mumbai.8

The ESI's 2025 guideline says South Asians tend to get weight-related illness at a lower BMI.8 A study of 1.5 million people in England looked at diabetes risk. South Asians at BMI 24 matched white people at BMI 30.12

Why websites disagree. The UK's NHS uses 23 and 27.5 for South Asians.13 Those numbers come from the WHO 2004 "action points".10 Indian guidelines use 23 and 25.1 Both say risk starts earlier than 25 for Indians.

How do I check my BMI and waist?

Put your numbers in below. You need a weighing scale, a soft tape measure and your height. Nothing you type leaves your device.

I am a
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Your BMI and waist check appear here as you type. How to measure your waist

For adults 18 and over. It's a starting point, not a diagnosis: see when BMI is misleading. Indian BMI cut-offs1, WHO9, waist2. Open the full checker (opens in a new tab) for teens, your healthy weight range and a summary to print.

Measuring your waist. Indian experts suggest this method:2

  • Stand straight, looking ahead. Doing it before breakfast is best.
  • Use a tape that doesn't stretch. Hold it level around your belly, just above your hip bones.
  • Read it at the end of a normal breath out. Don't pull your stomach in.

The WHO measures halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone instead.2 The waist cut-offs on this page come from Indian guidelines, so use the Indian method above.2

Waist-to-height check. Your waist divided by your height, both in cm. Above 0.5 suggests too much belly fat.2 The NHS puts it simply: keep your waist under half your height.13

Work it out by hand

BMI is your weight in kg divided by your height in metres, squared.14 Worked example. Ravi is 165 cm (5 ft 5 in, or 1.65 m) tall and weighs 72 kg.

  • 1.65 × 1.65 = 2.72
  • 72 ÷ 2.72 = a BMI of about 26.4
  • By Indian cut-offs, that is in the obesity range. By WHO cut-offs, it is overweight.1,9
  • Ravi's waist is 92 cm (36.2 inches). That is over the 90 cm (35.4 inches) level for men.2 His ratio is 92 ÷ 165 = 0.56, also above 0.5.
What to do with your result. Write down your BMI, waist and waist-to-height numbers and take them to a doctor. BMI alone shouldn't be used to judge your health. A doctor can check whether extra fat is already affecting your body.11 An HbA1c blood test shows your average blood sugar over recent months, so ask whether you need one.19 If a GLP-1 medicine ever comes up, a government statement of 1 April 2026 says only endocrinologists (hormone and diabetes specialists), internal-medicine specialists or cardiologists can prescribe them.34 Guide 6 covers seeing a doctor. Our doctor visit checklist (opens in a new tab) helps you prepare.

When is BMI misleading?

BMI can't tell fat from muscle, and it doesn't show where fat sits. So it's a starting point, not a diagnosis.11,14

  • Muscular people can get an "overweight" BMI without much body fat.15
  • Older adults often lose muscle with age.16 BMI doesn't separate muscle from fat, so it can hide extra fat.14
  • Pregnancy: adult BMI charts don't apply.15
  • Children and teens (under 18): adult cut-offs don't apply.15 A child's BMI naturally rises and falls as they grow, so it is compared with other Indian children of the same age and sex on a growth chart. India's child doctors, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), publish these charts for ages 5 to 18. On them, a child counts as overweight if their BMI is above the line that grows into an adult BMI of 23, and as having obesity above the line that grows into 27.17 A paediatrician can plot your child's numbers on the chart.
  • Thin-fat people may have a normal BMI but a large waist. That's why the waist matters.2,8

The 2025 Lancet Commission (a panel organised by the medical journal The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology) says BMI alone shouldn't be used to judge one person's health. It says to confirm extra fat with a second measure, like waist size.11

Do our diet and activity play a part?

Yes, though they aren't the whole story. Indian diets are high in carbohydrate and low in protein, and about half of Indian adults don't move enough. Both are linked to diabetes and belly fat. Genes and conditions before birth play a part too.

The national ICMR-INDIAB study (run by the Indian Council of Medical Research) recorded what 18,090 adults ate, across 30 states and union territories and Delhi. Most of their energy (calories) came from carbohydrate, much of it refined cereals such as white rice. Protein was below the 15% India's dietary guidelines recommend.28

62.3%of daily calories from carbohydrate28
12%of daily calories from protein, against a recommended 15%28

People who ate the most carbohydrate were more likely to have diabetes or extra fat. Compared with those who ate the least, their odds of newly found type 2 diabetes were 30% higher, and of a large waist 15% higher.28 Swapping white rice for whole wheat or millets didn't lower the risk on its own. The total amount of carbohydrate mattered more.28

Protein. Most of it came from plants, mainly cereals.28,32 Dairy gave 2% of calories, and meat, fish and eggs together just 1%.28 Cereal protein is lower in quality than protein from pulses, dairy or eggs.32 In the same study, replacing 5% of daily calories from carbohydrate with protein from pulses, dairy, eggs or fish was linked to about 10% lower odds of type 2 diabetes.28 In everyday terms, that means a little less rice or roti and a little more dal, milk, eggs or fish.

Activity. WHO estimates that 49.4% of Indian adults didn't get enough physical activity in 2022: 57.2% of women and 42.0% of men.29 In an earlier ICMR-INDIAB survey, 91.9% of adults did no exercise or sport in their free time.30

Not the whole story. The pattern may start before birth. A Pune study compared Indian babies with British babies. The Indian babies were smaller in every measure, but their body fat was the least reduced. The researchers said they "preserve body fat" while growing in the womb.31 Researchers think genes and nutrition in the womb raise the risk, and a high-carbohydrate diet with little activity in adult life sets it off.33 These studies show links, not proof that one thing causes another.28 And they describe the whole country, not any one person: see Is it my fault?

For what helps, see thin-fat Indians and protein for Indian vegetarians.

What are "clinical" and "pre-clinical" obesity?

They separate extra fat that is already harming your body from extra fat that isn't yet. The question is how your body is working, not just your weight.11

In January 2025, the Lancet Commission, a group of 58 experts, published a new definition. It has been endorsed by 76 organisations.11

  • Pre-clinical obesity: extra body fat, but your organs still work normally. Your risk of future illness is higher.11
  • Clinical obesity: extra fat is already affecting how your body works. Examples include breathlessness, or real limits on daily tasks like bathing or dressing.2,11

In 2025, the India Obesity Commission proposed a similar system, called Stage 1 and Stage 2.2 Stage 1 means a BMI above 23 with no related illness and no limits on daily life. Stage 2 adds a large waist (or waist-to-height ratio), plus a related illness or daily limits.2 This guide uses the 2009 cut-offs as the definition and shows the 2025 proposal beside them. India's ESI says its own 2025 guideline agrees with the Lancet approach.8

1Measure your BMI and waist
2Is your BMI above 23?
3Do you also have a large waist (90 cm or 35.4 inches for men, 80 cm or 31.5 inches for women) and a related illness or limits on daily life?
NoStage 1 (similar to "pre-clinical")Experts advise regular check-ups and food, activity and habit changes. For Stage 1 these are usually enough.
YesStage 2 (similar to "clinical")Experts advise timely treatment from a doctor, chosen for you after a full check-up.

Simplified from the 2025 Indian proposal.2 With a BMI of 23 or under, that proposal does not count you as having obesity, but a large waist still signals extra belly fat.2 The Indian stages and the Lancet's "pre-clinical" and "clinical" groups are similar, not identical. Each has its own rules.2,11

These numbers describe your health risk. They don't decide whether you need a medicine. India's ESI guideline says the point to start treatment is not based on BMI alone.8 Treatment can mean many things, from food and activity changes to medicines or surgery.1 See your options and when a GLP-1 may or may not fit. You can also try our self-check: Could it be an option for me? (opens in a new tab)

Which health problems are linked to extra weight?

Extra body fat, especially belly fat, is linked to many conditions. These include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver, PCOS, sleep apnoea and knee pain.2

The largest Indian survey, ICMR-INDIAB, surveyed over 113,000 adults across 31 states and union territories, and tested blood sugar in 107,119 of them.3 It found:

254MIndians with obesity (28.6% of adults)3,4
351Mwith excess belly fat (39.5%)3,4
101Mwith diabetes (11.4%)3,4
136Mwith prediabetes (15.3%)3,4

The government's National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21) found that 24% of women and 23% of men had a BMI of 25 or more.18 That is lower than the 28.6% above, but the two surveys counted different people. NFHS-5 counted only ages 15 to 49. ICMR-INDIAB counted adults aged 20 and over.3,18

The conditions, one by one

  • Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. An HbA1c blood test shows your average sugar over recent months. Below 5.7% is normal, 5.7–6.4% is prediabetes, and 6.5% or more is diabetes.19
  • High blood pressure. More than a third of Indian adults, or 315 million people, have it.3,4
  • Fatty liver (MASLD). This is fat building up in the liver. Its new name is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.20 About 39% of Indian adults in studies had it.21
  • PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). A hormone condition affecting periods and fertility. About 1 in 10 Indian women have it, depending on how it's diagnosed.22
  • Sleep apnoea. Breathing stops and starts during sleep. About 11% of Indian adults have it, or about 104 million people of working age.23
  • Knee pain from wear (osteoarthritis). A study of 5,000 Indians found it in 29% of people. Obesity was one linked factor.24

Indian experts also list heart disease, high cholesterol, depression and infertility as linked to obesity.2

What does losing 5–10% of your weight do?

For many people, losing 5–10% of body weight brings real health gains. For a 72 kg person, that is about 4 to 7 kg.6

These results come from food and activity programmes, not medicines.5,6,7,26

  • Less diabetes. In the US Diabetes Prevention Program, the lifestyle group aimed to lose at least 7% of their weight. Their diabetes rate was 4.8 per 100 people a year, against 11.0 on dummy pills, a 58% drop.5
  • Every kilo counts. In the same trial, each kg lost cut diabetes risk by 16%.25
  • It works in Indians too. The Indian Diabetes Prevention Programme studied 531 people with high sugar after meals. Over 3 years, 39% in the lifestyle group got diabetes, against 55% in the comparison group.26
  • Better sugar and blood pressure. One study looked at people with type 2 diabetes. Those who lost 5–10% of their weight had about 3.5 times the odds of their HbA1c falling by half a point or more (for example, from 7.5% to 7.0%), compared with people whose weight stayed the same. Blood pressure and blood fats improved too.6
  • Less liver damage. One study followed 293 people with liver inflammation caused by fat. Of those who lost 5% or more, 58% saw it clear. Among those losing 10% or more, 90% did.7

Bigger weight losses generally brought bigger gains in these studies.6,7

Is obesity my fault?

No. Obesity is a long-term medical condition with many causes. It is not a lack of willpower.9,11

The WHO calls obesity a chronic disease. It comes from genes, brain signals, eating habits, access to healthy food, marketing and your surroundings.9 The Lancet Commission says blaming individuals isn't supported by the evidence.11

In 2020, experts from many countries signed a joint statement against weight stigma. They found it causes physical and mental harm.27 People who face it are also less likely to get proper care.27

Language is changing too. The new name for fatty liver dropped "fatty", which most experts surveyed found stigmatising.20 India's ESI keeps the word "overweight" because it feels less hurtful.8

Questions people ask

My BMI is 24. Do I have obesity?

Under the 2009 Indian cut-offs, 24 is overweight.1 A newer 2025 proposal from the India Obesity Commission counts a BMI above 23 as Stage 1 obesity if nothing else is wrong.2 Either way, check your waist too. It tells you more about belly fat.11

I'm slim, but my waist is large. Should I worry?

A large waist matters even with a normal BMI. Indian experts treat 90 cm (35.4 inches) (men) or 80 cm (31.5 inches) (women) as excess belly fat.2 This "thin-fat" pattern is common in India.8

Why does the UK's NHS say 27.5, not 25?

The NHS uses older WHO "action points"; Indian guidelines use 25.1,10,13 See why websites disagree.

Which blood test shows my diabetes risk?

HbA1c, which shows your average blood sugar over recent months.19 The ranges are under linked health problems.

Can I use these numbers for my teenager?

No. Adult cut-offs are for people aged 18 and over; children use growth charts.15,17 See when BMI is misleading.

Does a high BMI mean I need a GLP-1 medicine?

No. BMI and waist describe risk. India's ESI says the point to start treatment is not based on BMI alone.8 Guide 3 and Guide 4 cover your options and when a medicine may or may not fit.

Before you move on

  • Indian cut-offs are lower: BMI 23 is overweight and 25 is obesity.
  • A waist of 90 cm (35.4 inches) (men) or 80 cm (31.5 inches) (women) signals extra belly fat.
  • BMI is a screening number. Waist size and your health tell you more.
  • Clinical obesity means extra fat is already affecting your body.
  • Losing 5–10% of your weight can bring real health gains.
  • These numbers describe risk. They don't decide whether you need a medicine.
Your optionsShould I consider a GLP-1?Self-check quiz
Was this guide easy to understand?

Sources

  1. Misra A et al. Consensus statement for diagnosis of obesity, abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome for Asian Indians and recommendations for physical activity, medical and surgical management. J Assoc Physicians India 2009;57:163–70. PMID 19582986
  2. Misra A, Vikram NK, Ghosh A et al.; India Obesity Commission. Revised definition of obesity in Asian Indians living in India. Diabetes Metab Syndr 2025;19:102989. Declared interests: the lead author declares grants, lecture fees and travel from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, and from Indian makers including USV, Lupin, Cipla and Glenmark; a second author declares grants and lecture fees from Cipla, USV and Lupin (paper's own declaration). doi:10.1016/j.dsx.2024.102989 (restates the 2009 cut-offs; sets Stage 1/Stage 2; waist method)
  3. Anjana RM et al. Metabolic non-communicable disease health report of India: the ICMR-INDIAB national cross-sectional study (ICMR-INDIAB-17). Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2023;11:474–89. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(23)00119-5
  4. Mohan V, Anjana RM, Tandon N. Lessons learnt from the ICMR–INDIAB study. Natl Med J India 2024 (Table I: national totals in millions). nmji.in
  5. 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. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa012512
  6. Wing RR et al.; Look AHEAD Research Group. Benefits of modest weight loss in improving cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2011;34:1481–6. doi:10.2337/dc10-2415
  7. Vilar-Gomez E et al. Weight loss through lifestyle modification significantly reduces features of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Gastroenterology 2015;149:367–78. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2015.04.005
  8. Madhu SV, Kapoor N, Das S, Raizada N, Kalra S. ESI clinical practice guidelines for the evaluation and management of obesity in India: an update (2025). Indian J Endocrinol Metab 2025;29(4):355–65. doi:10.4103/ijem.ijem_680_25
  9. World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight (fact sheet). 8 December 2025. who.int
  10. 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
  11. Rubino F et al. Definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity (Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission). Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2025;13:221–62. The Commission had 58 members; 56 are named as authors. Declared interests: most of the 56 authors declare payments from Novo Nordisk, and many also from Eli Lilly; one also declares grants and lecture fees from Indian makers including USV, Lupin, Cipla, Glenmark and Zydus (paper's own declaration). doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(24)00316-4
  12. 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
  13. NHS (UK). Obesity. Page last reviewed 29 April 2026. nhs.uk
  14. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About body mass index (BMI). Updated 16 December 2025. cdc.gov
  15. NHS (UK). BMI calculator for adults: who it is not suitable for. nhs.uk
  16. 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
  17. Khadilkar VV et al. Revised Indian Academy of Pediatrics 2015 growth charts for height, weight and body mass index for 5–18-year-old Indian children. Indian J Endocrinol Metab 2015;19:470–6. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.159028
  18. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare / IIPS. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019–21, India fact sheet, indicators 88–89. PDF
  19. American Diabetes Association. Diagnosis (A1C and fasting glucose ranges). diabetes.org
  20. Rinella ME et al. A multisociety Delphi consensus statement on new fatty liver disease nomenclature. Hepatology 2023. Declared interests: 21 of 53 authors declare consulting, advisory or grant ties to Novo Nordisk, 5 to Eli Lilly, 5 to Zydus and 1 to Sun Pharma (paper's own declaration). doi:10.1097/HEP.0000000000000520
  21. Shalimar et al. Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2022;12:818–29. doi:10.1016/j.jceh.2021.11.010
  22. Bharali MD et al. Prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cureus 2022;14:e32351. doi:10.7759/cureus.32351
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  24. Pal CP et al. Epidemiology of knee osteoarthritis in India and related factors. Indian J Orthop 2016;50:518–22. doi:10.4103/0019-5413.189608
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  27. Rubino F et al. Joint international consensus statement for ending stigma of obesity. Nat Med 2020;26:485–97. Declared interests: 15 of 36 authors declare ties to Novo Nordisk and 2 to Eli Lilly; Novo Nordisk was one of the sponsors of the meeting's travel costs (paper's own declaration). doi:10.1038/s41591-020-0803-x
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  29. World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ (age-standardised), India, 2022 (indicator NCD_PAA). Model estimates from Strain T et al., Lancet Global Health, 2024;12(8):e1232–e1243. DOI
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  31. Yajnik CS, Fall CHD, Coyaji KJ et al. Neonatal anthropometry: the thin-fat Indian baby. The Pune Maternal Nutrition Study. International Journal of Obesity, 2003;27(2):173–180. 631 Pune and 338 Southampton babies. DOI
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  34. Press Information Bureau (PIB Research). GLP-1 Drugs: Use, Risks, and Regulation ("In India, GLP-1 drugs can only be prescribed by endocrinologists, internal medicine specialists, and cardiologists"). 1 April 2026. PDF

Last checked 5 Oct 2026 · Next review due Jan 2027 · Report an error

How this guide was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above: Indian and international guidelines, national surveys and published trials. It's general information, not medical advice. Talk to a qualified doctor before starting, stopping or changing any treatment. How we write