How to use
Enter your height (cm) and weight (kg) to see your BMI and weight category under the Japanese (JASSO) standard. The bar under the result shows where you fall and the weight at each threshold for your height.
Japanese standard: JASSO
The Japan Society for the Study of Obesity (JASSO) defines obesity as excess fat accumulated in adipose tissue with a BMI of 25 or more. A BMI under 18.5 is underweight and 18.5 to under 25 is normal weight; obesity is graded as grade 1 (25 to under 30), grade 2 (30 to under 35), grade 3 (35 to under 40), and grade 4 (40 or more). There is no separate category for 23–24.9, so the normal-weight range is fairly wide.
Waist circumference and metabolic syndrome
In Japan, the waist circumference threshold used to diagnose metabolic syndrome is 85 cm or more for men and 90 cm or more for women, with a higher threshold for women. Metabolic syndrome means having visceral-fat obesity together with two or more of high blood glucose, high blood pressure, and abnormal blood lipids.
Things to keep in mind
In Japan, BMI is used only for adults; schoolchildren aged 6 to 18 are assessed with the obesity index (himando). Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare also notes that a BMI of 25 or more does not necessarily mean weight loss is medically required. It is important to look at waist circumference and overall health along with body weight.
Limits of BMI
BMI was designed as a quick way to gauge weight status across large populations. People with the same BMI can differ in health depending on muscle mass, fat distribution, age, and sex. Abdominal obesity in particular does not show up in BMI, so it is worth checking your waist circumference as well. Waist thresholds also differ by country, and the Notes section of the result shows the threshold for this standard. Results are for reference only and are not a medical diagnosis.