If your BMI is 24, by WHO standards you're completely normal. But by Chinese standards, you're already overweight.

This creates confusion: how can the same number mean completely different things under different standards? Is the Chinese standard too strict, or did the WHO standard not account for ethnic differences?

The answer lies in human evolutionary history and genetic differences, and also hides many underestimated health risks for Asians.

WHO's BMI standards were developed in the 1990s, based mainly on research data from white populations. According to this standard, BMI 18.5-24.9 is normal, 25-29.9 is overweight, 30+ is obese.

This standard is widely adopted globally—you might see it on any country's health examination report. But the problem is: when these standards were developed, Asian population representation was severely insufficient.

Research has uncovered an unsettling fact: at the same BMI, Asians have 3-5 percentage points higher body fat percentage than white people.

This means an Asian with BMI 25 has body fat equivalent to a white person with BMI 27-28. In other words, if a white person and Asian have the same BMI, the Asian is actually "fatter."Why? This can be traced to evolution. Asian ancestors experienced more frequent and severe famines. To survive, bodies evolved an "energy-saving" mode: tending to store fat, especially visceral fat, while maintaining lower muscle mass and basal metabolic rate. This survival advantage in our modern world of food abundance and minimal physical activity has become a health liability.

More problematic is that Asians' fat distribution pattern is different. The same amount of fat, Asians tend to accumulate in the abdomen and around visceral organs rather than hips and thighs. This is why many Asians have normal BMI but large bellies—visceral fat exceeds limits.

Visceral fat is the most metabolically active fat tissue. The inflammatory cytokines it releases directly cause insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This is why Asians develop metabolic complications at lower BMI.

Based on this research, China developed stricter BMI standards: normal range 18.5-23.9, overweight 24-27.9, obesity 28+.

Compared to WHO standards, China's overweight threshold is 1 BMI point lower, obesity threshold is 2 points lower. This isn't intentional strictness—it's based on Asian-specific risk patterns.

Research shows that in Chinese populations, diabetes risk starts rising significantly at BMI 24. At BMI 28, risk increases dramatically. If we wait until BMI 30 to intervene, many people will already have developed diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Japan, Korea, Singapore, and other Asian countries have all adopted similar standards. India is even stricter, defining BMI 23+ as overweight. Behind these standards are large amounts of epidemiological data proving that Asians develop health complications at lower BMI.

If you use WHO standards to assess yourself, you might underestimate your health risk.

Here's an example: an Asian man with BMI 26 is only "mildly overweight" by WHO standards. But considering Asians' body fat characteristics, his actual body fat might be equivalent to a white person with BMI 28—already in the obesity category. If he also has elevated waist circumference (over 90cm), his diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk is likely already significantly elevated.

This is why many Asians appear "not fat" but have abnormal blood sugar and lipids on checkups. They were misled by the WHO standard's "normal" label and didn't intervene in time.

If you're Asian, you should use Asian/Chinese standards to assess your BMI.

But more importantly, don't just look at the BMI number. Combine with waist measurement: men over 90cm, women over 85cm—regardless of BMI, this needs attention.

Use our BMI Calculator to assess; it will tell you which category you fall under Chinese standards. But remember, standards are just references—your overall condition matters more.

BMI standard differences remind us: health assessment can't be one-size-fits-all. Ethnicity, genetics, lifestyle all affect health status.

As Asians, we can't simply apply WHO standards developed based on white population data. China's stricter standards aren't creating anxiety—they're scientifically grounded early warning.

If your BMI is 24-28, don't dismiss it as "just slightly overweight." Combine with waist circumference, body fat percentage, metabolic indicators for comprehensive assessment, and take timely intervention measures.

Use our BMI Calculator to start understanding your situation, then combine with waist measurement for a more comprehensive understanding of your health risk.

Health standards vary by individual, but prevention principles are universal: understand your true risk, then take action. Don't wait until BMI 30 to start worrying—your health might be threatened much earlier than that number.