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BMI (Asian-Indian Cutoffs)

BMI with ICMR/WHO Asian-Indian specific cutoffs — overweight ≥23, obese ≥25 for South Asians

General
📄Expert Group on Prevention of Obesity in India (ICMR) (2009). Indian J Med Res.PMID 19465726
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Clinical reference only. Not a substitute for professional medical judgment. Verify all results against institutional protocols before clinical use.

Calculate

BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnostic of body fatness. It does not account for muscle mass, age, or fat distribution.

Formula

BMI (kg/m²) = weight[kg] / (height[m])²
weightBody weight (kg)
heightHeight (m)

When to Use

Obesity screening, metabolic risk stratification, pre-surgical assessment, population health monitoring.

Clinical Pearls

  • South Asians have higher body fat % at lower BMI compared to white Europeans — hence lower cutoffs.
  • Waist circumference adds important information: risk elevated at >80 cm (women) and >90 cm (men) in Asian Indians.
  • BMI underestimates cardiometabolic risk in South Asians who may have metabolic syndrome at lower BMIs.
  • ICMR 2009 cutoffs are endorsed by WHO for Asian populations.

Original Publication

Expert Group on Prevention of Obesity in India (ICMR) (2009). Indian J Med Res.

View on PubMed (PMID 19465726) ↗