Is 80 kg overweight for 170 cm?

Yes — 80 kg is 8.0 kg above the healthy upper limit for 170 cm.

At 80 kg (176 lbs) and 170 cm (5'7"), the BMI is 27.7overweight.

Public-health guidelines place the ideal weight for 170 cm tall adults at 53.5–72 kg, equivalent to a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.

BMI scale WHO BMI categories from 14 to 42 with a marker at 27.7. Under Normal Over Ob I Ob II+ BMI 27.7 14 42
Your BMI of 27.7 sits in the overweight band. Cutoffs: 18.5, 25, 30, 35 (WHO).

What the numbers mean for you

You are 7.7 kg (17 lbs) above the healthy upper limit (BMI 25 = 72.3 kg (159 lbs)). At a modest 500 kcal daily deficit (~0.45 kg/week), reaching the healthy range takes about 17 weeks.

You have 6.7 kg (15 lbs) of buffer before crossing into the obese range (BMI 30 = 86.7 kg (191 lbs)). A 5–10% weight reduction (4.0 kg (9 lbs) to 8.0 kg (18 lbs)) 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 for your health

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 (33") at 170 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 kg neighbours at this height

WeightConversionBMICategory
75 kg165 lbs26.0Overweight
76 kg168 lbs26.3Overweight
77 kg170 lbs26.6Overweight
78 kg172 lbs27.0Overweight
79 kg174 lbs27.3Overweight
80 kg ← this page176 lbs27.7Overweight
81 kg179 lbs28.0Overweight
82 kg181 lbs28.4Overweight
83 kg183 lbs28.7Overweight
84 kg185 lbs29.1Overweight
85 kg187 lbs29.4Overweight

Practical next steps

  1. Aim for 5–10% body-weight reduction as the first goal — this alone improves most metabolic markers.
  2. Walk 30+ minutes daily and add two resistance sessions weekly.
  3. Audit liquid calories; they are the easiest to cut.
  4. Discuss screening for blood pressure, glucose, and lipids with your GP.

Frequently asked questions

Is 80 kg overweight for 170 cm?

80 kg at 170 cm gives a BMI of 27.7, which is overweight. The WHO healthy range for 170 cm is 53.5–72 kg.

What is the healthy weight for 170 cm?

53.5–72 kg (118–159 lbs).

How much should I lose or gain?

To reach the healthy upper limit, the difference is 8.0 kg.

Sources & references