Is 170 lbs overweight for a woman at 5'7"?
Yes — 170 lbs is 11 lbs above the healthy upper limit for 5'7" (for a woman).
At 170 lbs (77.1 kg) and 5'7" (170.2 cm) for a woman, the BMI is 26.6 — overweight.
Public-health guidelines place the ideal weight for 170.2 cm tall adults at 118–159 kg, equivalent to a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.
What the numbers mean for you
You are 10 lbs (4.7 kg) above the healthy upper limit (BMI 25 = 160 lbs (72.4 kg)). At a modest 500 kcal daily deficit (~0.45 kg/week), reaching the healthy range takes about 10 weeks.
You have 22 lbs (9.8 kg) of buffer before crossing into the obese range (BMI 30 = 192 lbs (86.9 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
At this BMI level, fitness and waist circumference are arguably more predictive of metabolic health than the BMI number itself.
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 85 cm (34") at 170.2 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 5'7"
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
| Weight | Conversion | BMI | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 165 lbs | 74.8 kg | 25.8 | Overweight |
| 166 lbs | 75.3 kg | 26.0 | Overweight |
| 167 lbs | 75.8 kg | 26.2 | Overweight |
| 168 lbs | 76.2 kg | 26.3 | Overweight |
| 169 lbs | 76.7 kg | 26.5 | Overweight |
| 170 lbs ← this page | 77.1 kg | 26.6 | Overweight |
| 171 lbs | 77.6 kg | 26.8 | Overweight |
| 172 lbs | 78 kg | 26.9 | Overweight |
| 173 lbs | 78.5 kg | 27.1 | Overweight |
| 174 lbs | 78.9 kg | 27.2 | Overweight |
| 175 lbs | 79.4 kg | 27.4 | Overweight |
Practical next steps
- Aim for 5–10% body-weight reduction as the first goal — this alone improves most metabolic markers.
- Walk 30+ minutes daily and add two resistance sessions weekly.
- Audit liquid calories; they are the easiest to cut.
- Discuss screening for blood pressure, glucose, and lipids with your GP.
Frequently asked questions
Is 170 lbs overweight for a woman at 5'7"?
170 lbs at 5'7" gives a BMI of 26.6, which is overweight. The healthy range for 5'7" is 118–159 lbs.
What is the healthy weight for 5'7"?
118–159 lbs.
What waist size is healthy for a woman at 5'7"?
Under 35 inches (88 cm) is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk.