Ideal weight for a 5'3" woman
In kilograms, for Indian adults, using the Asian-Indian healthy BMI band.
A woman of 5 feet 3 inches (160.0 cm) has a healthy weight range of 47.4 kg to 58.6 kg — that is 104 to 129 lb — using the Asian-Indian healthy BMI band of 18.5 to 22.9.
On the standard WHO scale the range extends to 63.8 kg, because that scale allows BMI up to 24.9 before calling it overweight. The 5.1 kg between the two is exactly the difference this site exists to explain.
What each weight means at 5'3"
The same table used everywhere on this site, computed for 160.0 cm.
| Weight | BMI | Asian-Indian band | Standard WHO band |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 kg (88 lb) | 15.6 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 42.5 kg (94 lb) | 16.6 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 45 kg (99 lb) | 17.6 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 47.5 kg (105 lb) | 18.6 | Normal | Normal |
| 50 kg (110 lb) | 19.5 | Normal | Normal |
| 52.5 kg (116 lb) | 20.5 | Normal | Normal |
| 55 kg (121 lb) | 21.5 | Normal | Normal |
| 57.5 kg (127 lb) | 22.5 | Normal | Normal |
| 60 kg (132 lb) | 23.4 | Overweight | Normal |
| 62.5 kg (138 lb) | 24.4 | Overweight | Normal |
| 65 kg (143 lb) | 25.4 | Overweight | Overweight |
| 67.5 kg (149 lb) | 26.4 | Overweight | Overweight |
| 70 kg (154 lb) | 27.3 | Overweight | Overweight |
| 72.5 kg (160 lb) | 28.3 | Obese | Overweight |
| 75 kg (165 lb) | 29.3 | Obese | Overweight |
| 77.5 kg (171 lb) | 30.3 | Obese | Obese |
| 80 kg (176 lb) | 31.2 | Obese | Obese |
| 82.5 kg (182 lb) | 32.2 | Obese | Obese |
| 85 kg (187 lb) | 33.2 | Obese | Obese |
| 87.5 kg (193 lb) | 34.2 | Obese | Obese |
| 90 kg (198 lb) | 35.1 | Obese | Obese |
| 92.5 kg (204 lb) | 36.1 | Obese | Obese |
| 95 kg (209 lb) | 37.1 | Obese | Obese |
| 97.5 kg (215 lb) | 38.1 | Obese | Obese |
| 100 kg (220 lb) | 39.1 | Obese | Obese |
| 102.5 kg (226 lb) | 40.0 | Obese | Obese |
| 105 kg (231 lb) | 41.0 | Obese | Obese |
| 107.5 kg (237 lb) | 42.0 | Obese | Obese |
| 110 kg (243 lb) | 43.0 | Obese | Obese |
Highlighted rows fall in the healthy band on the Asian-Indian scale (BMI 18.5–22.9). BMI = weight in kg ÷ (height in metres)². Height taken as 160.0 cm.
How this range was worked out
160.0 cm → 1.6002 m · 18.5 × 1.60² = 47.4 kg · 22.9 × 1.60² = 58.6 kg
No adjustment is applied for sex, because BMI has no sex term. A woman and a man of 5'3" get the same range from this method. That is a real limitation rather than an oversight — women carry more essential body fat at a healthy weight, and BMI cannot see it. The women and BMI guide covers what that means in practice.
The Devine reference
For a female of 5'3", the Devine formula gives 52.4 kg. It is shown because people search for it, not because it is better. It was published in 1974 as an aid to drug dosing, it returns a single number, and it takes no account of build.
Source: WHO Expert Consultation. “Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies.” The Lancet 2004;363(9403):157–163.
Source: Devine BJ. “Gentamicin therapy.” Drug Intelligence and Clinical Pharmacy 1974;8:650–655 — the origin of the widely quoted “ideal body weight” formula.
What ±5 kg looks like here
| Weight | BMI | Asian-Indian | Standard WHO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 kg | 16.8 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 48 kg | 18.7 | Normal | Normal |
| 53 kg (middle of range) | 20.7 | Normal | Normal |
| 58 kg | 22.7 | Normal | Normal |
| 63 kg | 24.6 | Overweight | Normal |
Five kilograms moves BMI by about 2.0 points at this height — which is why a 5 kg change matters more for a shorter person than a taller one.
Questions
What is the ideal weight for a 5 feet 3 inches woman in kg?
47.4 kg to 58.6 kg. That is the healthy BMI band for Indian adults (18.5 to 22.9) applied to a height of 160.0 cm. Anywhere inside that range is a reasonable place to be; there is no single correct number.
Is 53 kg a good weight for a 5'3" woman?
53 kg at 5'3" gives a BMI of 20.7, which is normal on the Asian-Indian scale and normal on the standard WHO scale.
What does the Devine formula give for 5'3"?
52.4 kg for a female of this height. Devine published the formula in 1974 for calculating drug doses rather than defining health, and it returns the same number for every woman of a given height regardless of build. Treat it as a historical reference, not a target.
Healthy BMI band 18.5–22.9 from the WHO Expert Consultation (Lancet 2004); Devine formula from Devine BJ, 1974. General information only — not medical advice. These calculators use published population formulas; they cannot account for your individual health. Consult a doctor before major diet or exercise changes. See data & method for every formula and citation used on this site.