The short explanation
The difference comes from which cut-off is used. Standard international BMI ranges were based mostly on studies of European populations. Research has shown that South Asians tend to have more body fat, especially around the belly, at the same BMI, and develop diabetes and heart disease at lower BMI levels. Because of this, Indian and Asian guidelines often use lower cut-offs for overweight and obesity than the international ones. So a BMI that an app calls normal may already be in the overweight range by Asian standards. Your doctor is using the cut-offs that better fit your risk. Waist size is another useful measure alongside BMI, because belly fat matters a lot for South Asian women.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- BMI does not distinguish fat from muscle, so very muscular people may have a high BMI without much fat.
- Family history of diabetes, PCOS, past high sugar in pregnancy, and high blood pressure add to risk regardless of BMI.
- A modest weight loss and an improvement in fitness can reduce risk meaningfully.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you your personal health risk. Your doctor will consider BMI, waist size, blood tests and family history together.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Which BMI cut-offs are you using for me?
- What should my waist size be?
- Should I check my sugar and cholesterol?
- What would a healthy weight goal be for me?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a few days if you notice strong thirst, frequent urination or weight change without trying.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Book a routine check to measure your waist and get baseline blood tests.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Weight control MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
- Healthy diet World Health Organization
- Diabetes World Health Organization
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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