BMI for 45 kg and 165 cm
Using Indian BMI standards (ICMR / WHO Asia-Pacific guidelines)
Your BMI
16.5
Underweight
Ideal weight for 165 cm (Indian standard)
50 – 62 kg
You may need to increase calorie intake and consult a doctor or nutritionist.
Full BMI Calculator - adjust your measurements
Healthy Weight Range
53.5–66.2 kg
Weight to Lose
3.8 kg to Normal
BMI Prime
0.97
| Category | BMI Range (South Asian) |
|---|---|
| Underweight | < 18.5 |
| Normal | 18.5 – 22.9 |
| Overweight | 23 – 27.4 |
| Obese I | 27.5 – 32.4 |
| Obese II+ | ≥ 32.5 |
This calculator is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health routine.
What is the BMI for 45 kg and 165 cm?
The BMI for 45 kg weight and 165 cm height is 16.5 — Underweight on the standard WHO scale and Underweight on the Indian/Asia-Pacific scale. The healthy weight for 165 cm is 50.4–67.8 kg (WHO BMI 18.5–24.9), or the stricter 50–62 kg (Indian BMI 18.5–22.9) recommended by the ICMR.
BMI 16.5 on both classification scales
WHO / International
Asia-Pacific / India (ICMR)
A BMI of 16.5 is classified as Underweight internationally and Underweight under the lower Indian cutoffs, which flag health risk from a BMI of 23 rather than 25.
Healthy weight range for 165 cm
WHO healthy range (BMI 18.5–24.9)
50.4 – 67.8 kg
international standard
Indian healthy range (BMI 18.5–22.9)
50 – 62 kg
ICMR / Asia-Pacific
Below the healthy range by
5.4 kg under
to reach 50.4 kg
At 45 kg you are about 5.4 kg below the 50.4 kg lower limit of the healthy range for 165 cm.
Reaching a healthy weight from 45 kg
To move from 45 kg into the healthy range you would aim to gain about 5.4 kg (up to 50.4 kg). A steady gain of around 0.25–0.5 kg per week from a modest calorie surplus (roughly 550 kcal/day above maintenance) favours lean mass over fat.
5.4 kg
to gain
~11 weeks
at 0.5 kg/week (≈ 3 months)
~2621/2364
kcal/day (men/women)
Prioritise protein and strength training so the added weight is muscle. Persistent unexplained low weight is worth discussing with a doctor to rule out an underlying cause.
Estimated daily calories at 45 kg / 165 cm
Men (maintenance)
2071 kcal/day
BMR 1336 kcal × 1.55 activity
Women (maintenance)
1814 kcal/day
BMR 1170 kcal × 1.55 activity
These figures use the Mifflin-St Jeor BMR equation and assume age 30 with moderate activity (exercise 3–5 days a week, activity factor 1.55). They are estimates only — your actual needs shift with age, sex, muscle mass, and how active you really are. To lose about 0.5 kg/week, subtract roughly 550 kcal/day from these numbers.
How BMI changes near 45 kg (at 165 cm)
| Weight | BMI | WHO category | Indian category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 kg | 12.9 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 40 kg | 14.7 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 45 kg (this page) | 16.5 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 50 kg | 18.4 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 55 kg | 20.2 | Normal weight | Normal weight |
At 165 cm, every 5 kg changes your BMI by about 1.9 points. Small, steady changes in weight move you gradually between BMI bands — there is no need for drastic swings.
This is general information based on BMI and standard formulas, not medical advice. BMI is a screening tool and does not measure body fat, muscle, or fat distribution. For guidance specific to you, consult a doctor or registered dietitian.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 45 kg a healthy weight at 165 cm?▾
At 45 kg and 165 cm your BMI is 16.5. On the standard WHO scale that is "Underweight", and on the Asia-Pacific/India scale (ICMR) it is "Underweight". A weight of 50.4–67.8 kg (WHO BMI 18.5–24.9), or the stricter 50–62 kg by the Indian cutoff, is considered healthy for this height. You may need to increase calorie intake and consult a doctor or nutritionist.
What is the ideal weight for 165 cm height?▾
For 165 cm, the healthy weight band is 50.4–67.8 kg using the WHO BMI range (18.5–24.9), and 50–62 kg using the Indian/Asia-Pacific range (18.5–22.9). Classic ideal-weight formulas (Hamwi, Devine, Robinson, Miller) average to about 61.9 kg for men and 57.6 kg for women at this height — a single "ideal" figure inside the same range.
How much weight do I need to gain to be normal at 165 cm?▾
To reach the healthy range (from 50.4 kg for 165 cm), you would aim to gain about 5.4 kg. A gradual gain of ~0.25–0.5 kg/week from a modest calorie surplus is the sustainable approach.
How many calories a day maintain 45 kg at 165 cm?▾
Using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation and assuming age 30 with moderate activity (exercise 3–5 days a week, activity factor 1.55), an estimated maintenance intake at 45 kg / 165 cm is about 2071 kcal/day for men and 1814 kcal/day for women. These are estimates — your real needs vary with age, muscle mass, and how active you are.
Is BMI accurate for muscular or athletic builds?▾
BMI only compares weight to height — it does not distinguish muscle from fat. A muscular or athletic person can show a BMI of 16.5 in the "overweight" band while carrying very little body fat, and a sedentary person at the same BMI can carry much more. For lean, heavily trained bodies, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, or a body-fat measurement gives a truer picture than BMI alone.
Why are the Indian (Asian) BMI cutoffs lower than the WHO standard?▾
Indians and other South and East Asians tend to carry more body fat and abdominal (visceral) fat at the same BMI as Western populations, and face heart-disease and type-2-diabetes risk at lower weights. So the ICMR and the WHO Asia-Pacific guidelines lower the thresholds: normal is 18.5–22.9 (not 24.9), the overweight/at-risk band starts at 23, and obesity begins at 25 instead of 30. At BMI 16.5 this is why your Indian category ("Underweight") can differ from the WHO category ("Underweight").
What health category does BMI 16.5 fall into?▾
A BMI of 16.5 is "Underweight" on the WHO scale and "Underweight" on the Indian/Asia-Pacific scale. You may need to increase calorie intake and consult a doctor or nutritionist. BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnosis — use it alongside waist size, blood pressure, blood sugar, and your doctor's advice.