Am I overweight?
Three metrics, one answer.

Field guide

How overweight classification works.

Being overweight means carrying excess body fat relative to height, which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and several cancers. No single number captures this perfectly. This calculator combines three established measures to give a richer picture than any one metric alone.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI is the most widely used screening tool for weight status. It divides weight by height squared:

The World Health Organization classifies adults as overweight at a BMI of 25 or above, and obese at 30 or above. BMI is inexpensive, non-invasive, and correlates reasonably well with body fat at the population level, which is why clinicians and researchers still rely on it.

BMI's limitations: it does not distinguish between fat mass and lean mass, so highly muscular individuals may register as overweight despite very low body fat. It also performs less well in some ethnic groups, for example, Asian populations tend to have higher metabolic risk at lower BMI values. Always interpret BMI alongside other metrics.

Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR)

WHtR is calculated by dividing waist circumference by height:

The landmark finding behind WHtR is elegantly simple: keep your waist to less than half your height (WHtR < 0.5). A 2012 meta-analysis of over 300,000 people found WHtR a better predictor of cardiometabolic risk than BMI, and crucially, a single threshold of 0.5 works across sexes and many ethnic groups — avoiding the sex-adjustment required for BMI in some populations.

WHtR specifically targets central (abdominal) obesity, which is more metabolically harmful than fat stored in the hips and thighs. Visceral fat — the fat stored around internal organs — releases inflammatory molecules and free fatty acids that impair insulin signaling and raise cardiovascular risk.

Waist circumference absolute thresholds

Waist circumference alone is a powerful predictor of metabolic risk, even in people with a normal BMI. The commonly cited thresholds from the National Institutes of Health and the International Diabetes Federation are:

• Men: elevated risk at ≥ 94 cm (37 in), high risk at ≥ 102 cm (40 in)
• Women: elevated risk at ≥ 80 cm (31.5 in), high risk at ≥ 88 cm (34.6 in)

Measure waist circumference at the navel (belly button), standing relaxed, after a normal exhale — not at the narrowest point and not while holding your breath.

Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR)

The waist-hip ratio compares the circumference of the waist to the circumference of the hips:

The World Health Organization defines abdominal obesity as WHR above 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women. WHR distinguishes android ("apple") fat distribution from gynoid ("pear") fat distribution — android obesity carries substantially higher cardiovascular and metabolic risk.

Why three metrics are better than one

Each metric has blind spots the others cover:

• A muscular person may have a high BMI but a healthy WHtR and waist circumference — suggesting they are not actually overweight.
• A "skinny fat" person (low muscle, high abdominal fat) may have a normal BMI but an elevated WHtR and waist — suggesting metabolic risk despite a normal-looking weight.
• When two or more metrics agree, the classification is more reliable than any single measure.

This calculator shows the overall assessment as the worst level across all provided metrics, because a single outlier metric is worth taking seriously.

BMI and overweight in different ethnic groups

Standard WHO BMI thresholds were developed largely from European populations. Research has shown that people of South Asian, East Asian, and Middle Eastern heritage face elevated metabolic risk at lower BMI values. The WHO acknowledges this by suggesting lower action points (23 for overweight, 27.5 for obesity) for certain Asian populations. WHtR is more robust here because the 0.5 threshold applies broadly across ethnicities.

Tips for using this calculator

• Measure waist circumference in the morning before eating, using a flexible tape measure held horizontally at the navel level — not at the narrowest point of the torso.
• Measure hips at the widest point of the buttocks, again with the tape horizontal and parallel to the floor.
• Compare your results with the BMI Calculator for a more in-depth look at weight-for-height and the healthy weight chart.
• A single measurement is a snapshot. Tracking changes over months is more informative than any single reading.

Disclaimer

This calculator provides population-level screening estimates for informational purposes only. These metrics are not diagnostic tools and cannot replace a clinical assessment. Individual risk depends on many factors beyond body measurements. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personal health advice.