Is 170 lbs overweight for 5'8"?

What the numbers mean for you

You are 6 lbs (2.5 kg) above the healthy upper limit (BMI 25 = 164 lbs (74.6 kg)). At a modest 500 kcal daily deficit (~0.45 kg/week), reaching the healthy range takes about 6 weeks.

You have 27 lbs (12.4 kg) of buffer before crossing into the obese range (BMI 30 = 197 lbs (89.5 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

This BMI band typically becomes more health-relevant when paired with a waist measurement above 94 cm (men) or 80 cm (women).

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 86 cm (34") at 172.7 cm.
• Absolute cutoff for most adults: waist under 94 cm (37") is associated with meaningfully lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• Higher-risk zone: waist above 102 cm (40") — this is where risk climbs sharply regardless 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