What is the ideal BMI in China?
For Asians, the WHO Asian BMI categories standard are as follows: 18.5–22.9 kg/m2 (normal weight), 23–27.5 kg/m2 (overweight) and ≥27.5 kg/m2 (obese).
Over half of adults in China, or more than half a billion people, are now overweight, an official report has found. The figures have risen significantly since 2002, when 29% of adults were overweight. The country's rapid economic growth in recent decades has led to major changes to lifestyle, diet and exercise habits.
Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by the formula of weight in kilograms divided by height squared in meters. BMI lower than 18.5 kg/m2 was diagnosed to be underweight malnutrition according to the criteria of adult weight determination (10).
In this issue of the journal Ma et al. [4], convincingly show that China is in the midst of a severely alarming increase in obesity, particularly abdominal obesity. When these increases are combined with the sheer size of China's population, we are likely witnessing an unparalleled development, at least in scope.
Results: Age-standardized rates of overall and abdominal obesity were 14.4% (95% CI, 14.3%–14.4%) and 32.7% (32.6%–32.8%) in women and 16.0% (15.9%–16.1%) and 36.6% (36.5%–36.8%) in men. Obesity varied considerably across socio-demographic subgroups.
The average height of 17-year old Japanese men is 170.7cm (5'6”) and 157.8cm (5'1”) for women. When it comes to weight, men weigh in with 62.5kg (137.7lbs) and women with 52.9kg (116.6lbs). Some people might be surprised that the average height is still relatively tall!
Average Weight and Body Mass Index
Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that the average weight of men in the US is 199.8 pounds. The average weight for women is 170.8 pounds. To put this in perspective, it's important to consider body mass index (BMI).
These studies have found that a low waist to hip ratio (WHR) of approximately 0.7 [9] and a low Body Mass Index (BMI; weight scaled for height) of approximately 18–19 kg/m2 [10] are perceived as most attractive in female bodies, while a low waist to chest ratio (WCR) of approximately 0.7, and relatively high BMI ( ...
For the same age, sex, and percentage of body fat, BMI is consistently lower in Asians than in Whites by about 2–3 kg/m2. This is because body build and muscularity may be different in these populations [22].
Specifically, Asians are more likely to develop fat around their abdomen, which is linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. It's partly why the World Health Organization proposed lowering the BMI cutoff for Asian populations to consider anything 23 or higher as overweight, Fang said.
Does Chinese have a lot of fat?
Many of the dishes on the menu at Chinese restaurants are high in fat, calories and sodium. For example, eating 3 cups of kung pao chicken will provide you with 1,302 calories and an astonishing 92 grams of fat. Add a cup of chicken fried rice and you add another 333 calories and 12 grams of fat.
It is calculated by dividing the body weight (in kg) by the square of height (in m): kg/m2. For Chinese adults living in Hong Kong, BMI from 23.0 to less than 25.0 kg/m2 is classified as overweight and BMI 25.0 kg/m2 or above is classified as obese.

The stunting, wasting and overweight prevalence in China for children under-five are 8%, 1% and 9% respectively.
Nationally, 41.9 percent of adults have obesity. Black adults had the highest level of adult obesity at 49.9 percent. Hispanic adults had an obesity rate of 45.6 percent.
African American women have the highest rates of obesity or being overweight compared to other groups in the United States. About 4 out of 5 African American women are overweight or obese.
Still, it is not a crime to be fat in Japan, as most of these viral posts state. Japanese citizens can't be fined or imprisoned for being overweight.
Using Body Mass Index (BMI) as a gauge, the number of Japanese women in their 20s who are too thin (BMI under 18.5), far exceeds those that fall into the overweight range (BMI over 25).
What are the common modern Japanese beauty standards? Modern Japanese beauty standards tend toward light, flawless skin, a slim, petite figure, slender legs, and a quiet personality—although those “standards” change over time and may be largely ignored by future generations.
What should your waist measurement be? For men, a waist circumference below 94cm (37in) is 'low risk', 94–102cm (37-40in) is 'high risk' and more than 102cm (40in) is 'very high'. For women, below 80cm (31.5in) is low risk, 80–88cm (31.5-34.6in) is high risk and more than 88cm (34.6in) is very high.
A similar study by Re and Rule (2016b) found that participants preferred facial adiposity levels associated with a BMI of 19.11 kg/m2 for female faces and 23.79 kg/m2 for male faces.
Is a BMI of 20 skinny?
Your body mass index, or BMI, is the relationship between your weight and your height. A BMI of 20-25 is ideal; 25-30 is overweight and over 30 is obese. If your BMI is under 18.5, you're considered underweight. If your BMI is 18.5-20, you're a bit underweight and can't afford to lose more.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the average woman is overweight and has a BMI of almost 30. Guys tend to prefer women who have a normal healthy BMI of somewhere between 18–23. Not overweight, not overweight, just a regular BMI that's somewhere in the healthy range.
The average person in Japan is thought to consume approximately 200 fewer calories than an average American person daily, which is thought to be due to higher food prices and traditional dietary habits in Japan, which are often healthier.
In one Swedish study involving 5286 males the IQ level was tested at the age of 18 and again at the age of 40. At each testing, the BMI of participants was also evaluated. The results clearly show that individuals with lower IQ level have higher BMI.
The healthiest countries are Japan and Switzerland
The country has one of the lowest levels of obesity in the world: 3.8% among men and 3.4% among women.
“The standard threshold for obesity is a BMI of 30 or above,” Shah said. “Recent work from our group and others suggests that number should be a BMI of 27.5 or above for Asian American people, based on their health risks.”
In 2021, black adults had the highest obesity rates of any race or ethnicity in the United States, followed by American Indians/Alaska Natives and Hispanics. As of that time, around 44 percent of all black adults were obese. Asians/Pacific Islanders had by far the lowest obesity rates.
Chicken chow mein is a lower-fat option that contains about 17 grams of fat, of which about 3 grams are saturated. Steamed shrimp with vegetables is another low-fat option. Chop suey, moo goo gai pan and stir-fried meats are additional options that are comparatively low in fat.
Bloating: Thanks to the oil in Chinese food, it makes you gassy and can cause physical discomfort. Oily food tends to delay stomach emptying, lingering inside for a long time and make you feel bloated.
Indeed, the traditional Chinese diet is far healthier than the traditional American diet, which often features meat as the focus of the meal, says T. Colin Campbell, PhD, professor of nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. But you don't have to travel to rural parts of China to eat healthy.
What is the obesity rate in Germany?
In Germany, 53.5% of the population (46.6% of women and 60.5% of men) is overweight (including obesity).
Approximately 75% of Mexico's adult population is either obese or overweight 1 ;which makes it one of the world's leading countries in both adult and childhood obesity3 . This health emergency weighs heavily on the future of the country2 .
In Korea, up to 40% of the population is obese, defining obesity as a body mass index (BMI) of ≥25 kg/m2, and obesity and abdominal obesity prevalence has increased dramatically over decades.
Verdict: Out of the OECD countries, Mexico has the second highest rate of obesity, the United States is first. Dr Michael Mosley in an interview on the BBC's Today programme, said that people in Mexico are the "fattest in the world".
Today, about 65% of adults and 15% of children and adolescents in the US are overweight or obese. The physiological mechanism causing the increase in obesity is no mystery: Americans eat more calories than they burn, and the excess energy is stored as fat.
Interestingly, 9 countries had a prevalence of obesity >20%: South Africa (23.3%), USA (32%), Brazil (21.4%), Mexico (25%), Egypt (30%), Iran (20.1%), Iraq (21%), Russia (21.5%), Turkey (26%).
Even when compared to white people of similar age, sex and body fat, Asian Americans tend to have consistently lower BMI because of their "different body build," said Dr.
In particular, in some Asian populations a specific BMI reflects a higher percentage of body fat than in white or European populations. Some Pacific populations also have a lower percentage of body fat at a given BMI than do white or European populations.
The countries in the world with the highest obesity rates are (in order) USA, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada and Ireland. With the exception of Mexico, all the fattest countries have one thing in common – they are English-speaking nations.
The Asian diet is often high in carbohydrates and low in protein. To compound this issue, the abdominal fat that Asians tend to store is the more dangerous, inflammatory and hidden visceral fat.
Which BMI lives longest?
Participants whose BMIs were between 40 and 49.9 were more than twice as likely to die during the study period than those whose BMI was in the optimal range of 22.5 to 24.9.
BMI changes substantially with age. After about 1 year of age, BMI-for-age begins to decline and it continues falling during the preschool years until it reaches a minimum around 4 to 6 years of age. After 4 to 6 years of age, BMI-for-age begins a gradual increase through adolescence and most of adulthood.