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Calculate your BMI with Asian-Indian reference ranges.

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a broad screening measure. This calculator uses Asian-Indian cut-offs — which are more relevant for the Indian population than standard WHO ranges. Educational use only.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Shweta Agarwal, MBBS, DGO · Last updated June 2026
Dr. Shweta Agarwal, Founder & Lead Fertility Specialist, at Aansh Hospital & IVF Center, Chandrapur Govt. ART-registered
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Shweta Agarwal, MBBS, DGO. Information on this page is educational and does not replace a medical consultation. Outcomes depend on individual clinical factors. BMI is a population-level screening tool and does not directly measure body fat or health. It should be interpreted alongside other clinical information by a qualified clinician.

BMI calculator

Enter your height and weight

This calculator uses Asian-Indian BMI cut-offs (see table below), which differ from standard WHO values and are more appropriate for assessing metabolic risk in the Indian population.

Asian-Indian BMI reference ranges

These cut-offs are used in this calculator. They differ from the standard WHO cut-offs (overweight ≥25, obese ≥30) and are more appropriate for assessing metabolic risk in the Indian population.

CategoryAsian-Indian BMIStandard WHO BMI
Underweight<18.0<18.5
Normal18.0 – 22.918.5 – 24.9
Overweight23.0 – 24.925.0 – 29.9
Obese≥ 25.0≥ 30.0

Sources: Consensus Statement for Diagnosis of Obesity, Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome for Asian Indians — published in JAPI (Journal of the Association of Physicians of India); ICMR guidelines on obesity for Indian adults.

Body weight and fertility — what the evidence says

Body weight can influence hormone balance and ovulation. In PCOS, a condition closely linked to insulin resistance, a 5–10% reduction in body weight has been associated with restoration of ovulation in some women. Being significantly underweight can also disrupt ovulation. The relationship is individual and complex — a specialist will factor this into a personalised assessment, not as a judgement but as one clinical data point among many.

Learn more: PCOS and weight · Consult Dr. Shweta Agarwal

Medical note: Information on this page is educational and does not replace a medical consultation. Outcomes depend on individual clinical factors. BMI is a screening tool only and does not diagnose any condition. Asian-Indian cut-offs are used here as they are more appropriate for the Indian population; however, BMI should always be interpreted by a clinician in the context of a full clinical evaluation. Last updated June 2026.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions about BMI and fertility

What is BMI?
BMI (Body Mass Index) is a simple screening measure calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in metres (kg/m²). It provides a broad indication of whether body weight is within a range associated with good health for a given height. BMI is a population-level screening tool, not a direct measure of body fat or health status, and should be interpreted alongside other clinical information.
Why does this calculator use Asian-Indian BMI cut-offs instead of standard WHO cut-offs?
Research shows that people of South Asian origin — including the Indian population — tend to have higher body fat percentages and greater metabolic risk at lower BMI values compared to Western reference populations. The standard WHO cut-offs (overweight ≥25, obese ≥30) were derived primarily from European populations. Revised Asian-Indian cut-offs (normal 18.0–22.9; overweight 23–24.9; obese ≥25) are recommended by Indian clinical guidelines and bodies including ICMR and are more relevant to assessing metabolic and cardiovascular risk in the Indian context.
How does body weight affect fertility?
Body weight can influence hormone balance, ovulation, and the response to fertility treatment. In PCOS — a common cause of ovulatory infertility — excess body weight and insulin resistance are closely linked; a 5–10% reduction in body weight has been shown to restore ovulation in some women. Being significantly underweight can also disrupt ovulation. The relationship between weight and fertility is complex and individual; a clinician can advise on what, if anything, is relevant to your specific situation. See our PCOS page for more on weight and ovulatory health.
What BMI is recommended before fertility treatment?
There is no single universal BMI required for fertility treatment, and recommendations vary by clinical situation. Clinicians may suggest that optimising body weight before treatment can improve response to medications and overall outcomes in some cases — but the decision is always personalised. Dr. Shweta Agarwal discusses weight and other factors relevant to your treatment during your consultation. Use this calculator as a starting point for that conversation, not as a decision-making tool on its own.
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