Is 170 lbs overweight for a woman at 5'6"?

What the numbers mean for you

You are 15 lbs (6.9 kg) above the healthy upper limit (BMI 25 = 155 lbs (70.2 kg)). At a modest 500 kcal daily deficit (~0.45 kg/week), reaching the healthy range takes about 15 weeks.

You have 16 lbs (7.2 kg) of buffer before crossing into the obese range (BMI 30 = 186 lbs (84.3 kg)). A 5–10% weight reduction (8 lbs (3.9 kg) to 17 lbs (7.7 kg)) is clinically meaningful even without reaching a "normal" BMI.

Timelines assume ~7,700 kcal per kg of body fat. Real progress varies with muscle mass, adherence, and medications.

What this means

A BMI in this band is moderately associated with elevated blood pressure and altered lipid profiles, but lifestyle factors strongly modify the actual risk.

Waist matters more than the scale

Two people can share the same BMI and have very different metabolic risk. For that reason, waist circumference is now considered a stronger predictor of cardiometabolic disease than BMI alone.

• Waist-to-height rule: keep your waist under half your height — that means below 84 cm (33") at 167.6 cm.
• Absolute cutoff for women: waist under 80 cm (31.5") is associated with meaningfully lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• Higher-risk zone: waist above 88 cm (35") — this is where risk climbs sharply regardless of BMI.

For women at 5'6"

BMI uses the same formula for both sexes, but health interpretation differs. Women typically carry a higher percentage of body fat at the same BMI than men. A waist circumference under 35 inches (88 cm) lowers cardiometabolic risk independent of BMI.

Precise ±5 lb neighbours at this height

Practical next steps

1. Create a modest caloric deficit of 250–500 kcal/day for steady, sustainable loss.
2. Combine cardio with strength training to preserve muscle.
3. Track waist measurement — it often improves before scale weight.
4. Reduce ultra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened drinks first.

Frequently asked questions