Is 170 lbs overweight for 5'6"?

Yes — 170 lbs is 16 lbs above the healthy upper limit for 5'6".

At 170 lbs (77.1 kg) and 5'6" (167.6 cm), the BMI is 27.4overweight.

For an adult who is 167.6 cm tall, the World Health Organization considers a weight between 115 and 154 kg to be healthy.

What this means

At this BMI level, fitness and waist circumference are arguably more predictive of metabolic health than the BMI number itself.

Practical next steps

  1. Focus on consistency over intensity — small daily wins beat aggressive short-term plans.
  2. Track food intake for 1–2 weeks to identify high-calorie patterns.
  3. Add strength training to protect lean mass during weight loss.
  4. Re-measure waist every month; expect change there before scale weight.

Frequently asked questions

Is 170 lbs overweight for 5'6"?

170 lbs at 5'6" gives a BMI of 27.4, which is overweight. The healthy range for 5'6" is 115–154 lbs.

What is the healthy weight for 5'6"?

115–154 lbs.

Sources & references