Is 85 kg overweight for 170 cm?

Yes — 85 kg is 13.0 kg above the healthy upper limit for 170 cm.

At 85 kg (187 lbs) and 170 cm (5'7"), the BMI is 29.4 — overweight.

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 29.4. Under Normal Over Ob I Ob II+ BMI 29.4 14 42
Your BMI of 29.4 sits in the overweight band. Cutoffs: 18.5, 25, 30, 35 (WHO).

Reviewed by the SnapBMI editorial team. Last updated: .

What the numbers mean for you

You are 12.7 kg (28 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 28 weeks.

You have 1.7 kg (4 lbs) of buffer before crossing into the obese range (BMI 30 = 86.7 kg (191 lbs)). A 5–10% weight reduction (4.3 kg (9 lbs) to 8.5 kg (19 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

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 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
80 kg176 lbs27.7Overweight
81 kg179 lbs28.0Overweight
82 kg181 lbs28.4Overweight
83 kg183 lbs28.7Overweight
84 kg185 lbs29.1Overweight
85 kg ← this page187 lbs29.4Overweight
86 kg190 lbs29.8Overweight
87 kg192 lbs30.1Obese Class I
88 kg194 lbs30.4Obese Class I
89 kg196 lbs30.8Obese Class I
90 kg198 lbs31.1Obese Class I

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

Is 85 kg overweight for 170 cm?

85 kg at 170 cm gives a BMI of 29.4, 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 13.0 kg.

Related calculations

Sources & references