Is 85 kg overweight for 175 cm?

Yes — 85 kg is 8.7 kg above the healthy upper limit for 175 cm.

At 85 kg (187 lbs) and 175 cm (5'9"), the BMI is 27.8overweight.

Public-health guidelines place the ideal weight for 175 cm tall adults at 56.7–76.3 kg, equivalent to a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.

BMI scale WHO BMI categories from 14 to 42 with a marker at 27.8. Under Normal Over Ob I Ob II+ BMI 27.8 14 42
Your BMI of 27.8 sits in the overweight band. Cutoffs: 18.5, 25, 30, 35 (WHO).

What the numbers mean for you

You are 8.4 kg (19 lbs) above the healthy upper limit (BMI 25 = 76.6 kg (169 lbs)). At a modest 500 kcal daily deficit (~0.45 kg/week), reaching the healthy range takes about 19 weeks.

You have 6.9 kg (15 lbs) of buffer before crossing into the obese range (BMI 30 = 91.9 kg (203 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

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 88 cm (34") at 175 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 lbs26.1Overweight
81 kg179 lbs26.4Overweight
82 kg181 lbs26.8Overweight
83 kg183 lbs27.1Overweight
84 kg185 lbs27.4Overweight
85 kg ← this page187 lbs27.8Overweight
86 kg190 lbs28.1Overweight
87 kg192 lbs28.4Overweight
88 kg194 lbs28.7Overweight
89 kg196 lbs29.1Overweight
90 kg198 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 85 kg overweight for 175 cm?

85 kg at 175 cm gives a BMI of 27.8, which is overweight. The WHO healthy range for 175 cm is 56.7–76.3 kg.

What is the healthy weight for 175 cm?

56.7–76.3 kg (125–168 lbs).

How much should I lose or gain?

To reach the healthy upper limit, the difference is 8.7 kg.

Sources & references