Maintaining a healthy balance between height and weight is not just about appearance, it’s a key indicator of overall health. Medical science has long relied on a standard method to assess this balance:
the Body Mass Index, or BMI. However, experts say that while BMI offers a helpful guideline, it doesn’t paint the full picture, especially for South Asian body types.
“Body balance is essential for any person to be healthy. If the right ratio increases, everything is fine. If the wrong ratio increases, then it is a call for disease,” said experts.
As people grow, their height and weight tend to increase until a point when height plateaus. If the body continues gaining weight disproportionately, or loses it drastically, it could signal an underlying health imbalance.
Understanding BMI
BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a widely used method to determine whether a person’s weight is appropriate for their height. According to Medical News Today, the formula is simple:
BMI = Weight (kg) / Height² (meters)
For instance, if a person weighs 70 kg and is 6 feet tall, the calculation would look like this:
Height in metres = 1.83
BMI = 70 / (1.83 × 1.83) = 20.90
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy. A score below 18.5 signals underweight, while a BMI above 25 may suggest overweight or obesity.
But here’s where the Indian perspective complicates things.
BMI Doesn’t Tell The Whole Story
While BMI is a helpful starting point, it’s not always accurate, especially for Indians. “BMI does not measure belly fat, on the other hand belly fat is the most dangerous type of obesity,” experts caution. Recognising this, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended going a step further, measuring abdominal fat.
If a man’s waist circumference exceeds 90 cm, or a woman’s is more than 80 cm, it may indicate a high risk of obesity-related complications, even if their BMI appears normal.
What Should You Weigh? A Height-Wise Reference
Below is a weight range chart to help assess what your approximate weight should be for your height. The left column shows height, while the next two columns indicate ideal weight ranges for women and men, respectively.
| Height | Women (kg) | Men (kg) |
| 137 cm / 4’6″ | 28.5 – 34.9 | 28.5 – 34.9 |
| 147 cm / 4′10″ | 36.4 – 44.9 | 38.5 – 46.7 |
| 152 cm / 5′0″ | 40.8 – 49.9 | 43.1 – 53.0 |
| 160 cm / 5′3″ | 47.2 – 57.6 | 50.8 – 61.6 |
| 165 cm / 5′5″ | 51.2 – 62.6 | 55.3 – 68.0 |
| 168 cm / 5′6″ | 53.0 – 64.8 | 58.0 – 70.7 |
| 170 cm / 5′7″ | 55.3 – 67.6 | 60.3 – 73.9 |
| 173 cm / 5′8″ | 57.1 – 69.8 | 63.0 – 76.6 |
| 175 cm / 5′9″ | 59.4 – 72.6 | 65.3 – 79.8 |
| 178 cm / 5′10″ | 61.2 – 74.8 | 67.6 – 83.0 |
| 180 cm / 5′11″ | 63.5 – 77.5 | 70.3 – 85.7 |
| 183 cm / 6′0″ | 65.3 – 79.8 | 72.6 – 88.9 |
| 188 cm / 6′2″ | 69.4 – 84.8 | 77.5 – 94.8 |
| 193 cm / 6′4″ | 73.5 – 89.8 | 82.5 – 100.6 |
| 195 cm / 6′5″ | 75.7 – 92.5 | 84.8 – 103.8 |
These numbers provide general guidance. The ideal weight can also vary based on muscle mass, bone density, lifestyle, and underlying health conditions.
