BMI for Men at 170 cm — Healthy Weight 53.5–72.0 kg
For a man who is 170 cm tall, the healthy weight range is 53.5–72.0 kg — the weights that give a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 under the World Health Organization's classification. This page shows exactly how that range is calculated, what the BMI would be at a series of weights for this height, and what the number does and does not mean for you.
For men, the same BMI formula and categories apply as for women, but the interpretation often differs: men are more likely to carry muscle that pushes BMI up, and more likely to carry fat around the waist, which is the pattern most closely linked to health risk.
Remember what this page is: an estimate from a screening tool, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. BMI was designed for population studies, and it works best when read alongside other measures — waist circumference, body-fat percentage, blood pressure and how active you are. The sections below give you those next steps.
Calculate your own BMI
Use the BMI calculator to work out your own BMI at any height and weight. Enter your measurements and the tool applies the same formula shown below, with your WHO category. If you also want an estimate of body fat, try the body fat calculator.
Related pages in this section:
The formula, shown and cited
BMI is defined by the World Health Organization as weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared:
BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)²
To find the healthy weight range for a height, the formula is rearranged: weight = BMI × height². For 170 cm:
- Height: 170 cm = 1.70 m
- Height squared: 1.70 × 1.70 = 2.8900 m²
- Bottom of the healthy range: 18.5 × 2.8900 = 53.5 kg
- Top of the healthy range: 24.9 × 2.8900 = 72.0 kg
The WHO categories are: underweight below 18.5, healthy weight 18.5–24.9, overweight 25.0–29.9, and obese 30 and above. The same formula and categories apply to every adult; the interpretation can differ with age, muscle mass and ethnicity, which is one more reason to treat the number as a starting point rather than a verdict.
BMI at 170 cm across weights
| Weight | BMI | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 40 kg | 13.8 | Underweight |
| 50 kg | 17.3 | Underweight |
| 60 kg | 20.8 | Healthy Weight |
| 70 kg | 24.2 | Healthy Weight |
| 80 kg | 27.7 | Overweight |
| 90 kg | 31.1 | Obese |
| 100 kg | 34.6 | Obese |
| 110 kg | 38.1 | Obese |
| 120 kg | 41.5 | Obese |
| 130 kg | 45.0 | Obese |
This table shows how BMI changes with weight at a fixed height of 170 cm: every 10 kg moves the BMI by about 3.5 points. It also shows why a single BMI number is more useful inside a range than on its own — the healthy range for this height spans 53.5 kg to 72.0 kg, a spread of 18.5 kg, and a person can move within that range by several kilograms without leaving it.
The healthy weight range at 170 cm
| Boundary | BMI | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom of healthy range | 18.5 | 53.5 kg |
| Top of healthy range | 24.9 | 72.0 kg |
| Middle of the range | 21.7 | 62.7 kg |
If your weight is below 53.5 kg, your BMI is under 18.5; if it is above 72.0 kg, your BMI is over 24.9. Either way, the number is a prompt to look further, not a conclusion. If you want to move towards the range, aim for a gradual change of 0.5–1% of body weight per week, keep daily intake above 1,200 kcal for women and 1,500 kcal for men unless a healthcare professional advises otherwise, and consider discussing the plan with a healthcare professional — especially if weight has changed recently or without trying.
What the number does NOT tell you
BMI cannot tell muscle from fat, and that is its central limitation. A muscular man can have a BMI in the overweight range with very little body fat, and a person with low muscle mass can sit inside the healthy range while carrying more fat than is ideal. BMI also says nothing about where fat is carried: fat around the waist (visceral fat) carries more health risk than fat on the hips and thighs, which is why waist circumference is the most useful companion measure — a waist above 80 cm for women or 94 cm for men is a commonly used flag for increased risk, whatever the BMI. BMI does not measure fitness, blood pressure, blood sugar or cholesterol, and it is less reliable for older adults (who may have lost muscle) and for very tall or short people. None of this makes BMI useless — it makes it a first step. If your BMI is outside the healthy range, the right response is to gather the other measures and talk to a healthcare professional, not to panic or to crash-diet.
How to use the result
Start with a waist measurement: a tape around the narrowest point of your torso, or at the navel if that is easier to find consistently. Then consider a body-fat estimate — the Navy method needs only a tape measure and gives a figure with an error of about ±3–4 percentage points. Together, BMI, waist and body fat give a much fuller picture than any one of them alone. If you decide to change your weight, set a process goal rather than a number goal: a daily walk, a regular strength session, a consistent meal pattern. Weigh yourself no more than once a week, at the same time of day, and judge progress over a month, not a day. And if your BMI is in the obese range, or you have other health concerns such as diabetes, high blood pressure or joint pain, involve a healthcare professional before starting a weight-loss plan — they can check the things BMI cannot see.
Frequently asked questions
What is a healthy weight for a man at 170 cm?
Between 53.5 kg and 72.0 kg — the weights that give a BMI of 18.5 and 24.9 at 170 cm. That range is a guide, not a prescription: healthy people sit near its edges, and muscle mass, age and build all shift where inside (or outside) the range a person is healthiest.
How is the healthy weight range at 170 cm calculated?
By rearranging the BMI formula. BMI = weight ÷ height², so weight = BMI × height². At 170 cm (1.70 m), the bottom of the range is 18.5 × 2.8900 = 53.5 kg and the top is 24.9 × 2.8900 = 72.0 kg.
Does BMI work the same for men?
The formula and the WHO categories are the same for both sexes, but the meaning differs. For men, the same BMI formula and categories apply as for women, but the interpretation often differs: men are more likely to carry muscle that pushes BMI up, and more likely to carry fat around the waist, which is the pattern most closely linked to health risk. That is why BMI should always be read alongside waist circumference and, where useful, a body-fat estimate.
Is 170 cm tall for a man?
At 170 cm this is a fairly typical adult height, and BMI behaves as expected here. Whatever the height, the healthy range above is the correct arithmetic; what changes at unusual heights is how much weight to give the result on its own.
Should I aim for the middle of the healthy range?
Not necessarily. The middle of the range at 170 cm is about 62.7 kg, but there is no health reason to prefer the middle over the edges — the whole range is described as healthy. A better goal is a stable weight you can maintain with regular activity and a balanced diet, rather than a specific number inside the range.
Estimates only, not medical advice. Minimum safe intakes: 1,200 kcal/day women, 1,500 kcal/day men — consult a healthcare professional before a very-low-calorie diet.