For someone 5 feet 2 inches tall (157.5 cm), a healthy weight is 45.9 to 61.8 kg by the WHO BMI range, or up to 56.8 kg by the Asian range used in India. Ideal body weight averages 56 kg for a man and 52 kg for a woman.
| Weight (kg) | Weight (lb) | BMI | WHO category | Asian category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39.7 kg | 87 lb | 16 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 42.2 kg | 93 lb | 17 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 45.9 kg | 101 lb | 18.5 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 49.6 kg | 109 lb | 20 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 52.1 kg | 115 lb | 21 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 54.6 kg | 120 lb | 22 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 57 kg | 126 lb | 23 | Healthy | Overweight |
| 59.5 kg | 131 lb | 24 | Healthy | Overweight |
| 62 kg | 137 lb | 25 | Overweight | Obese |
| 64.5 kg | 142 lb | 26 | Overweight | Obese |
| 68.2 kg | 150 lb | 27.5 | Overweight | Obese |
| 74.4 kg | 164 lb | 30 | Obese | Obese |
| 80.6 kg | 178 lb | 32.5 | Obese | Obese |
| 86.8 kg | 191 lb | 35 | Obese | Obese |
| 99.2 kg | 219 lb | 40 | Obese | Obese |
At 5 feet 2 inches, overweight starts at 62 kg (WHO) or 57 kg (Asian cut-off), and obesity at 74.4 kg (WHO) or 62 kg (Asian).
| Formula | Man | Woman |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 54.6 kg (120 lb) | 50.1 kg (110 lb) |
| Robinson (1983) | 55.8 kg (123 lb) | 52.4 kg (116 lb) |
| Miller (1983) | 59 kg (130 lb) | 55.8 kg (123 lb) |
| Hamwi (1964) | 53.4 kg (118 lb) | 49.9 kg (110 lb) |
| Average of the four | 55.7 kg (123 lb) | 52.1 kg (115 lb) |
Ideal body weight (IBW) formulas were designed for medicine doses, not as a target, and they ignore frame size and muscle. Use them alongside the healthy BMI range.
Keep your waist under half your height: under 79 cm (31 inches) at 5'2". Waist-to-height ratio predicts heart and diabetes risk better than BMI alone, especially for South Asian adults.
| Waist-to-height | Waist at 5'2" | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Under 0.4 | under 63 cm | May be too slim |
| 0.4 – 0.49 | 63–77 cm | Healthy |
| 0.5 – 0.59 | 79–93 cm | Increased risk |
| 0.6 or more | 94 cm or more | High risk |
A healthy weight for a woman 5 feet 2 inches tall is 46–62 kg (BMI 18.5–24.9), or 46–57 kg for Asian women. Ideal body weight formulas give 50–56 kg.
A healthy weight for a man 5 feet 2 inches tall is 46–62 kg (BMI 18.5–24.9), or 46–57 kg for Asian men. Ideal body weight formulas give 53–59 kg.
At 157 cm, aim for 46–62 kg. Above 62 kg is overweight by WHO standards (57 kg by Asian standards).
5 feet 2 inches is 157.5 cm (62 inches × 2.54).