# BMI in Singapore: the Asian cut-offs and what they mean

> The BMI categories used with Asian cut-offs in Singapore (normal 18.5 to 22.9, overweight 23, obese 27.5), how they compare with the international 25 and 30, why Asian cut-offs are lower, and what BMI cannot tell you.

- Tool: [BMI Calculator Singapore (Asian Cut-offs)](https://toolsg.com/en/bmi-calculator-singapore)
- Language: en (available: en, zh)
- Last verified against official sources: 2026-11-03
- Source site: ToolSG — a planning guide, not official or financial advice. Cite the agencies listed under Sources.

## Key figures at a glance

| Fact | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Underweight | Below 18.5 — The same line under the Asian and the international cut-offs. | [SingHealth HealthXchange](https://www.healthxchange.sg/how-to-prevent/effective-obesity-management/weight-management-your-ultimate-guide-to-healthy-weight-loss) |
| Normal range (Asian cut-offs) | 18.5 to 22.9 — The international normal range runs to 24.9. | [SingHealth HealthXchange](https://www.healthxchange.sg/how-to-prevent/effective-obesity-management/weight-management-your-ultimate-guide-to-healthy-weight-loss) |
| Overweight starts at (Asian cut-offs) | 23 — Overweight is 23 to 27.4. The international line is 25. | [SingHealth HealthXchange](https://www.healthxchange.sg/how-to-prevent/effective-obesity-management/weight-management-your-ultimate-guide-to-healthy-weight-loss) |
| Obese starts at (Asian cut-offs) | 27.5 — The international line is 30. | [SingHealth HealthXchange](https://www.healthxchange.sg/how-to-prevent/effective-obesity-management/weight-management-your-ultimate-guide-to-healthy-weight-loss) |

## The categories

BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared. The same number is read against two sets of cut-offs:

| Category | Asian cut-offs | International cut-offs |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Underweight | Below 18.5 | Below 18.5 |
| Normal | 18.5 to 22.9 | 18.5 to 24.9 |
| Overweight | 23 to 27.4 | 25 to 29.9 |
| Obese | 27.5 and above | 30 and above |

A BMI of 24 is therefore normal on the international scale and overweight on the Asian one.

## Why the Asian cut-offs are lower

Asians tend to have more visceral body fat, the fat around the internal organs, than Caucasians of the same BMI. The healthy range for Asians has therefore been set lower. The calculator shows both so you can see where you fall on each.

## How the calculator reads your number

- BMI is rounded to **one decimal** and the category is taken from that number, so the figure you see and the category always agree. A BMI that rounds to 23.0 is overweight.
- The **healthy weight range** for your height is the weight at BMI 18.5 and at BMI 22.9, rounded inward to 0.1 kg. For 170 cm that is 53.5 to 66.1 kg.
- The kilograms to lose or gain are measured to the **nearest edge** of that range, not to a single target weight.

## What BMI cannot tell you

The formula uses only height and weight. It does not measure body fat, where fat sits or muscle, so two people with the same BMI can be in very different shape, and a very muscular person can score high. It is a screening number, not a diagnosis, and the categories on this page are the adult ones.

## What this guide does not cover

This guide does not give waist-circumference limits, advice for children or teenagers, or any guidance on treatment. For those, speak to a doctor or see the Health Promotion Board's materials.

## Common mistakes

- **Using the international line.** Under the Asian cut-offs, overweight starts at 23, not 25.
- **Reading BMI as health.** It is one number, and it ignores body fat and muscle.
- **Mixing units.** Height is in centimetres and weight in kilograms here.

## Which tool for what

- [Paid sick leave calculator](https://toolsg.com/en/paid-sick-leave-calculator): how many paid sick days you have left.
- [Government support schemes](https://toolsg.com/en/government-support-schemes): the schemes you may qualify for.

## Frequently asked questions

**What is a healthy BMI in Singapore?**

Under the Asian cut-offs, a BMI from 18.5 to 22.9 is the normal range. Below 18.5 is underweight, 23 to 27.4 is overweight and 27.5 and above is obese.

**Why are the Asian BMI cut-offs lower than the international ones?**

Asians tend to have more visceral body fat than Caucasians of the same BMI, so the healthy range is set lower. The international cut-offs are 25 for overweight and 30 for obese.

**How is BMI calculated?**

Divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared. This calculator rounds the result to one decimal place and uses that number for the category.

**Is BMI accurate for everyone?**

No. It uses only height and weight, so it does not measure body fat, where fat sits or muscle, and can mislead for very muscular people. Treat it as a screening number and speak to a doctor.

**Is my data sent anywhere?**

No. The calculation runs in your browser, so your height and weight are not sent to a server by this tool.


## Sources

- [SingHealth HealthXchange — Weight management: your ultimate guide to healthy weight loss](https://www.healthxchange.sg/how-to-prevent/effective-obesity-management/weight-management-your-ultimate-guide-to-healthy-weight-loss) — The table of Asian and international BMI cut-offs and the reason the Asian healthy range is lower.
- [Singapore Medical Journal — Health Promotion Board-Ministry of Health Clinical Practice Guidelines: Obesity (2016)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27353244/) — The summary of the HPB-MOH obesity guideline. The cut-offs on this page come from the HealthXchange table above, not from this summary.