For someone 5 feet 5 inches tall (165.1 cm), a healthy weight is 50.4 to 67.9 kg by the WHO BMI range, or up to 62.4 kg by the Asian range used in India. Ideal body weight averages 62 kg for a man and 58 kg for a woman.
| Weight (kg) | Weight (lb) | BMI | WHO category | Asian category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.6 kg | 96 lb | 16 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 46.3 kg | 102 lb | 17 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 50.4 kg | 111 lb | 18.5 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 54.5 kg | 120 lb | 20 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 57.2 kg | 126 lb | 21 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 60 kg | 132 lb | 22 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 62.7 kg | 138 lb | 23 | Healthy | Overweight |
| 65.4 kg | 144 lb | 24 | Healthy | Overweight |
| 68.1 kg | 150 lb | 25 | Overweight | Obese |
| 70.9 kg | 156 lb | 26 | Overweight | Obese |
| 75 kg | 165 lb | 27.5 | Overweight | Obese |
| 81.8 kg | 180 lb | 30 | Obese | Obese |
| 88.6 kg | 195 lb | 32.5 | Obese | Obese |
| 95.4 kg | 210 lb | 35 | Obese | Obese |
| 109 kg | 240 lb | 40 | Obese | Obese |
At 5 feet 5 inches, overweight starts at 68.1 kg (WHO) or 62.7 kg (Asian cut-off), and obesity at 81.8 kg (WHO) or 68.1 kg (Asian).
| Formula | Man | Woman |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 61.5 kg (136 lb) | 57 kg (126 lb) |
| Robinson (1983) | 61.5 kg (136 lb) | 57.5 kg (127 lb) |
| Miller (1983) | 63.3 kg (139 lb) | 59.9 kg (132 lb) |
| Hamwi (1964) | 61.5 kg (136 lb) | 56.5 kg (125 lb) |
| Average of the four | 61.9 kg (137 lb) | 57.7 kg (127 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 83 cm (32.5 inches) at 5'5". Waist-to-height ratio predicts heart and diabetes risk better than BMI alone, especially for South Asian adults.
| Waist-to-height | Waist at 5'5" | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Under 0.4 | under 66 cm | May be too slim |
| 0.4 – 0.49 | 66–81 cm | Healthy |
| 0.5 – 0.59 | 83–97 cm | Increased risk |
| 0.6 or more | 99 cm or more | High risk |
A healthy weight for a woman 5 feet 5 inches tall is 50–68 kg (BMI 18.5–24.9), or 50–62 kg for Asian women. Ideal body weight formulas give 57–60 kg.
A healthy weight for a man 5 feet 5 inches tall is 50–68 kg (BMI 18.5–24.9), or 50–62 kg for Asian men. Ideal body weight formulas give 62–63 kg.
At 165 cm, aim for 50–68 kg. Above 68 kg is overweight by WHO standards (63 kg by Asian standards).
5 feet 5 inches is 165.1 cm (65 inches × 2.54).