For someone 5 feet 8 inches tall (172.7 cm), a healthy weight is 55.2 to 74.3 kg by the WHO BMI range, or up to 68.3 kg by the Asian range used in India. Ideal body weight averages 68 kg for a man and 63 kg for a woman.
| Weight (kg) | Weight (lb) | BMI | WHO category | Asian category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47.7 kg | 105 lb | 16 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 50.7 kg | 112 lb | 17 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 55.2 kg | 122 lb | 18.5 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 59.7 kg | 132 lb | 20 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 62.6 kg | 138 lb | 21 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 65.6 kg | 145 lb | 22 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 68.6 kg | 151 lb | 23 | Healthy | Overweight |
| 71.6 kg | 158 lb | 24 | Healthy | Overweight |
| 74.6 kg | 164 lb | 25 | Overweight | Obese |
| 77.6 kg | 171 lb | 26 | Overweight | Obese |
| 82 kg | 181 lb | 27.5 | Overweight | Obese |
| 89.5 kg | 197 lb | 30 | Obese | Obese |
| 97 kg | 214 lb | 32.5 | Obese | Obese |
| 104.4 kg | 230 lb | 35 | Obese | Obese |
| 119.3 kg | 263 lb | 40 | Obese | Obese |
At 5 feet 8 inches, overweight starts at 74.6 kg (WHO) or 68.6 kg (Asian cut-off), and obesity at 89.5 kg (WHO) or 74.6 kg (Asian).
| Formula | Man | Woman |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 68.4 kg (151 lb) | 63.9 kg (141 lb) |
| Robinson (1983) | 67.2 kg (148 lb) | 62.6 kg (138 lb) |
| Miller (1983) | 67.5 kg (149 lb) | 64 kg (141 lb) |
| Hamwi (1964) | 69.6 kg (153 lb) | 63.1 kg (139 lb) |
| Average of the four | 68.2 kg (150 lb) | 63.4 kg (140 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 86 cm (34 inches) at 5'8". Waist-to-height ratio predicts heart and diabetes risk better than BMI alone, especially for South Asian adults.
| Waist-to-height | Waist at 5'8" | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Under 0.4 | under 69 cm | May be too slim |
| 0.4 – 0.49 | 69–85 cm | Healthy |
| 0.5 – 0.59 | 86–102 cm | Increased risk |
| 0.6 or more | 104 cm or more | High risk |
A healthy weight for a woman 5 feet 8 inches tall is 55–74 kg (BMI 18.5–24.9), or 55–68 kg for Asian women. Ideal body weight formulas give 63–64 kg.
A healthy weight for a man 5 feet 8 inches tall is 55–74 kg (BMI 18.5–24.9), or 55–68 kg for Asian men. Ideal body weight formulas give 67–70 kg.
At 173 cm, aim for 55–74 kg. Above 75 kg is overweight by WHO standards (69 kg by Asian standards).
5 feet 8 inches is 172.7 cm (68 inches × 2.54).