BMI Calculator (Korean standard)
Get your BMI and the category Korean doctors and health checkups use, plus the normal weight range for your height.
BMI categories used in Korea (KSSO 2022)
| Category | BMI (kg/m²) |
|---|---|
| Underweight | under 18.5 |
| Normal | 18.5 – 22.9 |
| Pre-obese | 23 – 24.9 |
| Obesity class 1 | 25 – 29.9 |
| Obesity class 2 | 30 – 34.9 |
| Obesity class 3 | 35+ |
Normal weight by height
| Height | Normal (18.5–22.9) | Pre-obese from | Obese from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150cm | 41.6 – 51.5kg | 51.8kg | 56.3kg |
| 155cm | 44.4 – 55.0kg | 55.3kg | 60.1kg |
| 160cm | 47.4 – 58.6kg | 58.9kg | 64.0kg |
| 165cm | 50.4 – 62.3kg | 62.6kg | 68.1kg |
| 170cm | 53.5 – 66.2kg | 66.5kg | 72.2kg |
| 175cm | 56.7 – 70.1kg | 70.4kg | 76.6kg |
| 180cm | 59.9 – 74.2kg | 74.5kg | 81.0kg |
| 185cm | 63.3 – 78.4kg | 78.7kg | 85.6kg |
Korea uses lower cut-offs than the US and Europe: BMI 23–24.9 is pre-obese and 25 or more is obesity, because health risks rise at lower BMI in Asian populations. Abdominal obesity is a waist of 90 cm or more for men and 85 cm or more for women.
FAQ
Why does Korea use BMI 25 for obesity?
Asian populations develop weight-related conditions at lower BMI, so Korea follows the WHO Asia-Pacific cut-offs: 23 pre-obese, 25 obese.