Out of all American adults, more than two-thirds are deemed to be “overweight” or “obese,” which represents a worrying trend for the nation’s health.
Adults can use the charts below to find the traditional ideal weight for women and men, for their height and at a healthy body mass index (BMI). While older methods used different equations for men and women, a 2016 study proposed a universal equation based on body mass index.
A BMI of 22 is in the middle of the normal weight range and is associated with the best health outcomes. These charts are not valid for children or teens.
Sound health is a prerequisite for happiness. While for adults, it is vital for defining your quality of life, for children, it is essential for proper growth, both physically and mentally. An indicative measure of good health in adults is manifest in the height and weight chart, while in children it attains greater importance since it is the benchmark for the overall development of the child.
Since childhood, you are accustomed to two adages “Health is wealth” and “Sound mind in a sound body”. These are two cardinal truths that amply define what health is all about. Merely being free from disease or infirmity does not reflect your health in totality. Your health should project your functional efficiency defined through the overall condition of your body, mind, and spirit.
The ideal weight for women is the one that is healthy for them. It varies amongst women as per their height. As per the CDC report, the average weight of American women in 2015-2016 was 77.4 kg (170.6 lb) in 2015–2016, up from 74.3 kg (163.8 lb) in 1999–2000.
To find out if any person is underweight, normal-weight, overweight, or obese, their Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated from weight and height. The BMI lets you know if your weight is normal for your height. Here is how you can find out your BMI:
Remember that a large framed person will weigh considerably more than a smaller framed person of the same height. However, don’t be too quick to attach a big build label to yourself the best test of whether or not you are overweight is honesty and an objective eye.
BMI = weight in kg divided by height in meter, then again divide the result by height in meter.
So, what is the ideal weight for women, how would a person best measure it, and what can women do to achieve their ideal weight? Ideal weight depends on various factors including age, height, genes, nutrition, etc. The current article provides the values of ideal weights for women, by age and height.
How to Calculate Weight According to Height?
The conventional way of calculating ideal weight for women and men is more like a rule of thumb. It’s not based on any research or study. This traditional process has gained popularity for its simple calculation process. According to the process:
For men: the ideal weight will be 48.08 kg for 5 feet. And then, for every inch, an additional 2.72 kg will be added. For instance, the ideal weight for a man of 5’4” will be = 48.08kg + 2.72kg * 4 = 58.96 kg.
For women: the ideal weight will be 45.35 kg for 5 feet. And then, for every inch, an additional 2.26 kg will be added. For instance, the ideal weight for a woman of 5’4” will be = 45.35kg + 2.26 kg * 4 = 54.39 kg.
This traditional process was to help health specialists to estimate drug dosage. They often failed to estimate the ideal weight at both shorter and taller heights.
However, in 2016, a study revealed that the results extracted from this traditional process correlate with the healthy BMI range (from 18.5 to 24.9) for women and men. Then another equation to measure ideal weight for women and men was suggested.
The new equation suggests that the healthy BMI range is the same for men and women, and thus it should work for both. The new equation for calculating ideal body mass is:
Ideal Weights in Kg = 2.2 × BMI + (3.5× BMI) × (Height in Meters – 1.5 m)
The prime distinctions between these equations lie in the taller range of height. Apart from these, in the BMI system, the ideal weight for women and men is the same.
Ideal Height and Ideal Weight for Women and Men
/GettyImages-1076523906-9fe09b6365f149419065b58d75839a49.jpg)
How Ideal Weight Is Calculated
The traditional ideal weight calculation is essentially a rule of thumb rather than being based on health research or a comprehensive study of population averages.1
- For women: ideal body weight (in kilograms) = 49kg + 1.7kg for each inch over 5 feet
- For men: ideal body weight (in kilograms) = 52kg + 1.9kg for each inch over 5 feet
These equations were developed for use by doctors to calculate drug dosages. They tend to overestimate ideal weight at shorter heights and underestimate it at taller heights.1
However, a 2016 study found that the results correlate well with the body mass index of 21 for women and 22.5 for men, which is near the middle of the healthy BMI range. The authors of the study suggest a different equation using body mass index.1
The healthy BMI range is the same for men and women, so the results apply to both. The healthy normal weight range is a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9; a body mass index of 22 is in the middle of that range.
The biggest differences between the older equations and the newer equation come in the taller height range. Also, the ideal weight for women is the same as for men when using BMI, and the new equation allows a few pounds more at each height for women than the older charts.
What is the ideal weight range for women?
An “ideal weight” is where a person is at their healthiest and fittest in terms of what they weigh. There is a variety of different ways to calculate ideal weight ranges:
BMI
BMI is the most commonly used system for calculating ideal weight for women, as it is relatively easy to work out. An individual can work out their BMI by applying their height and weight to the following formula:
divide weight in kilograms by height in meters
divide the answer by height again
For those people more familiar with using imperial measurements, there are various online calculatorsTrusted Source for working out BMI scores.
BMI calculations are the same for men and women, and BMI is seen as correlating fairly wellTrusted Source with a person’s percentage of body fat.
Despite this, BMI can give a false picture, as muscle weighs more than fat. Research in the journal Sports HealthTrusted Source, showed athletes rating as “overweight” or “obese,” despite being in peak condition.
One studyTrusted Source also criticizes BMI for underestimating the prevalence of obesity in both sexes and being increasingly inaccurate as women age.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteTrusted Source, BMI ranges are as follows:
- Underweight Less than 18.5
- Normal weight 18.5–24.9
- Overweight 25–29.9
- Obesity 30 or greater
Waist circumference and hip-to-waist ratio
Fat is spread around a person’s body but not all types of fat are equal.
The fat that can build up around someone’s midsection and turn into a beer belly or love handles can indicate a higher risk for related diseases that have potential to do harm to your body.
The World Health Organization (WHO) note that fat around the midsection is associated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and premature death.
Furthermore, it says calculating a person’s waist-to-hip ratio is a better indicator of their fat distribution and disease implications than BMI is.
A person can work out their waist-to-hip ratio by dividing their waist measurement by their hip measurement.
Women should keep their waist circumference at 80 centimeters (cm) or 31.5 inches or less, according to the WHO. Anything more is associated with increased risk of related health problems, as follows:
| Indicator | Cut-off points | Risk of health problems |
| Waist circumference | More than 80 cm (31.5 inches) | Increased risk |
| Waist circumference | More than 88 cm (34.6 inches) | Substantially increased risk |
| Waist-to-hip ratio | Equal or more than 0.85 | Substantially increased risk |
Height and Weight Chart for Men
Men: Measure chest, the width of shoulders, and length of hands and feet. Chest 96 cm (38 in), shoulders 42.5 cm (17 in), hands 17.5 cm (7 in), feet 20 cm (8 in) or less would be a small frame; chest 112 cm (44 in), shoulders 52.5 cm (21 in), hands 23.5 cm (9 ½ in), feet 25 cm (10 in) or more would be a large frame. Anything between these two sets of measurements would be a medium frame.
| Meters | Height | Small frame | Medium Frame | Large frame | ||||
| Ft | in | Kilos | Pounds | Kilos | Pounds | Kilos | Pounds | |
| 1.47 | 4 | 10 | 41-44 | 92-98 | 43-48 | 96-107 | 47-53 | 104-119 |
| 1.49 | 4 | 11 | 42-45 | 94-101 | 44-49 | 98-110 | 48-55 | 106-122 |
| 1.52 | 5 | 0 | 43-47 | 96-104 | 45-51 | 101-113 | 49-56 | 109-125 |
| 1.54 | 5 | 1 | 44-48 | 99-107 | 47-52 | 104-116 | 50-58 | 112-128 |
| 1.57 | 5 | 2 | 46-49 | 102-110 | 48-53 | 107-119 | 52-59 | 115-131 |
| 1.60 | 5 | 3 | 47-51 | 105-113 | 49-55 | 110-122 | 53-60 | 118-134 |
| 1.62 | 5 | 4 | 48-52 | 108-116 | 51-57 | 113-126 | 54-62 | 121-138 |
| 1.65 | 5 | 5 | 50-53 | 111-119 | 52-58 | 116-130 | 56-64 | 125-142 |
| 1.67 | 5 | 6 | 51-55 | 114-123 | 54-61 | 120-135 | 58-66 | 129-146 |
| 1.70 | 5 | 7 | 53-57 | 118-127 | 56-63 | 124-139 | 60-68 | 133-150 |
| 1.72 | 5 | 8 | 55-59 | 122-131 | 58-54 | 128-143 | 62-69 | 137-154 |
| 1.75 | 5 | 9 | 57-61 | 126-135 | 59-66 | 132-147 | 63-71 | 141-158 |
| 1.77 | 5 | 10 | 58-63 | 130-140 | 61-68 | 136-151 | 65-73 | 145-163 |
| 1.80 | 5 | 11 | 60-65 | 134-144 | 63-70 | 141-155 | 67-76 | 149-168 |
| 1.82 | 6 | 0 | 62-67 | 138-148 | 65-72 | 144-159 | 69-78 | 153-174 |
How to Achieve an Ideal Weight
According to studies, maintaining a happier and healthier lifestyle mostly depends on a person’s choice. It takes a person’s commitment and persistent hard work to maintain an ideal weight. But it will eventually pay you as you will get the most precious and demanding asset a human being can achieve- sound and disease-free health.
Below are a few short yet sensible tips that will assist you on your venture to maintain an ideal weight for men:
Taking Balanced Diet: Make sure your daily food intake covers all the mandatory elements and nutrients your body needs. Drink adequate water. For the sake of keeping fit, don’t consider skipping a meal. It’s harmful to your health.
Daily Exercises: Nothing will contribute more to your effort to keep a healthy weight more than exercising regularly. A planned and scheduled daily exercise routine will benefit your total body and mind condition.
Enough Sleep: Sleep makes your brain function at its best. It provides the body with the chance to recover from the daily loss.
Avoid Overthinking: Over thinking leads to extra stress. Consider relaxing your mind by meditating or practicing deep breathing daily. It will quiet your mind while making you feel peaceful.
As you check for a healthy weight chart, you might see yourself over or below the standard health condition. You should not get worried about the implications and stress over the condition. Know that the primary intention of these charts is to inform you about the actual condition and awareness. It will aid your journey to take up a more proactive physical lifestyle.
