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What should I weigh to be a healthy weight for my height and age?

Many people are interested in the answer to the question: What do I need to weigh? There isn't an ideal weight that is healthy for every person because many variables play an important role.

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This includes the age, muscle-fat ratio size, sex, and the distribution of body fat, or the body's shape.

Being overweight can increase the risk of developing various diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes high blood pressure, as well as cardiovascular issues.

It is not the case that everyone who has extra weight suffers from health issues. Researchers at Trusted Source believe that, while the extra weight may not be affecting the health of a person but a lack of control can cause problems in the near future.

Find out about the four methods to work to find the ideal body weight.

Method 1. BMI (Body Mass Index) ( BMI)

The body mass index (BMI) is a popular method to determine if the person is of a suitable body weight. It is a measure of a person's weight relative to height.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)Trusted Source:

• A BMI that is less than 18.5 indicates that the person is overweight.
• A BMI somewhere between 18.5 and 24.9 is ideal.
• A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered to be overweight.
• A BMI above 30 is a sign of obesity.

Calculator for body mass index

To determine your BMI to calculate your BMI, use our BMI calculators or look over our charts below.

BMI Calculator

Units:U.S. (Imperial)MetricHeight:FeetInchesWeight:PoundsCALCULATEThis BMI calculator is for informational purposes only. See a doctor before making any health-related decisions. BMI can be a faulty measure of risk to health and may not be accurate since it is unable to determine the percentage and distribution of fat in the body. BMI Calculator Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Weight and height guide chart

The following chart of height and weight utilizes BMI tables taken from the National Institute of HealthTrusted Source to calculate the amount of weight a person should be for their height.

Height	Weight
	Normal	Overweight	Obesity	Severe obesity
4ft 10'' (58'')	Between 91 and 115 pounds.	Between 119 and 138 pounds.	From 143 to 186 pounds.	191 - 258 lbs.
4ft 11'' (59'')	Between 94 and 119 pounds.	Between 124 and 143 pounds.	From 148 to 193 pounds.	Between 198 and 267 pounds.
5ft (60'')	From 97 to 123 pounds.	128-148 lbs.	Between 153 and 199 pounds.	Between 204 and 276 pounds.
5ft 1'' (61'')	100-127 lbs.	Between 132 and 153 pounds.	Between 158 and 206 pounds.	Between 211 and 285 pounds.
5ft 2'' (62'')	Between 104 and 131 pounds.	From 136 to 158 pounds.	Between 164 and 213 pounds.	218-295 pounds.
5ft 3'' (63'')	From 107 to 135 pounds.	From 141 to 163 pounds.	Between 169 and 220 pounds.	Between 225 and 304 pounds.
5ft 4'' (64'')	110-140 pounds.	From 145 to 169 pounds.	Between 174 and 227 pounds.	From 232 to 314 pounds.
5ft 5'' (65'')	Between 114 and 144 pounds.	150-174 pounds.	180 - 234 pounds.	From 240 to 324 pounds.
5ft 6'' (66'')	Between 118 and 148 pounds.	Between 155 and 179 pounds.	Between 186 and 241 pounds.	247-334 lbs.
5ft 7'' (67'')	Between 121 and 153 pounds.	Between 159 and 185 pounds.	191 - 249 lbs.	Between 255 and 344 pounds.
5ft 8'' (68'')	Between 125 and 158 pounds.	Between 164 and 190 pounds.	From 197 to 256 pounds.	262-354 lbs.
5ft 9'' (69'')	128 to 162 pounds.	From 169 to 196 pounds.	Between 203 and 263 pounds.	From 270 to 365 pounds.
5ft 10'' (70'')	From 132 to 167 pounds.	From 174 to 202 pounds.	209-271 lbs.	278-376 lbs.
5ft 11'' (71'')	From 136 to 172 pounds.	Between 179 and 208 pounds.	215 - 279 pounds.	286-386 pounds.
6ft (72'')	140-177 lbs.	Between 184 and 213 pounds.	221 - 287 lbs.	294-397 lbs.
6ft 1'' (73'')	From 144 to 182 pounds.	Between 189 and 219 pounds.	227 - 295 lbs.	302 to 408 pounds.
6ft 2'' (74'')	From 148 to 186 pounds.	194-225 lbs.	Between 233 and 303 pounds.	311-420 pounds.
6ft 3'' (75'')	Between 152 and 192 pounds.	200-232 pounds.	Between 240 and 311 pounds.	319 - 431 lbs.
6ft 4'' (76'')	Between 156 and 197 pounds.	Between 205 and 238 pounds.	246-320 pounds.	From 328 to 443 pounds.
BMI	19 to 24	25 to 29	30 to 39	40 to 54

What is the problem with BMI?

BMI is a simple measurement. Although it takes the height into account, it doesn't take into account things like:

• Measurements of hips or waist
• the distribution or proportion of fat
• percentage of muscle mass

They can also affect health.

High-performance athletes, like are typically healthy and slim with little body fat. They may have a higher BMI due to their higher muscles, but that doesn't mean they are overweight.

BMI can provide an idea of whether or not the person's weight is healthy. It can be useful in determining the trends of population studies.

But, it shouldn't be the sole way for individuals to determine if their weight is healthy or not.

Method 2: Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)

The waist-to-hip ratio of a person's measurements compares the size of their waist to that of the hips.

Studies have shown that those who have greater body fat around their middle are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease (CVD) as well as diabetes.

The greater the waist measurement, in relation to the hips, the higher the risk.

This is why it is important to know the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is an effective method to determine if an individual is of a healthy weight and height.

Find your waist-to-hip ratio.

1. Take a measurement around your waist to determine the narrowest area, typically close to the belly button.

2. Dividing this number by measurement of your hip's largest point.

If the waist of a person is 28 inches, and their hips measure 36 inches, they'll divide that by 36. This gives them 0.77.

What is it that you are looking for?

The impact of WHR on the risk of developing cardiovascular heart disease (CVD) is different for women and men due to the fact that they have different body types.

The evidence suggests that the The WHR can impactTrusted Source the CVD risk in the following ways:

In males

• below 0.9 Risk of developing cardiovascular health issues is very low.
• From 0.9 From 0.9 to 0.99 Risk is moderate.
• At 1.0 or more the risk is very high.

Females are the only ones who can benefit from HTML0.

• Below 0.8: The risk is not high.
• From 0.8 From 0.8 to 0.89: Risk is considered moderate.
• At 0.9 or more the risk is very high.

However, these numbers may differ from Trusted Source according to the source and the people that they are applicable to.

WHR could be a better indicator of heart attacks and other health issues than BMI that does not consider fat distribution.

A study of health records of 1,349 individuals who trusted Source across 11 countries, released in 2013, revealed that people with a higher WHR also face a higher chance of suffering from surgical and medical complications related to colorectal surgery.

But, WHR doesn't accurately gauge a person's total body fat percentage, or their ratio of muscle to fat.

For more information on the basis of evidence and resources on obesity and managing weight, check out the dedicated site.

Method 3: Waist-to-height ratio

The Waist-to-Height Ratio (WtHR) is a different tool which can help predict the risk for heart diseases, diabetes, and general mortality better than BMI.

A person with a waist measurement of less than half of their height is at a lower risk of developing a variety of serious health issues.

Find your waist-to-height ratio

To determine the WtHR, one should divide their waist measurement in half by the height. If the result is 0.5 or less, it is likely that they are at a healthy weight.

• If a woman is five feet and four inches tall (163 cm) must have a waist measurement that is less than 32 inches (81 centimeters).
• A man who is 6 feet tall or 383 centimeters (cm) tall should have a waist measurement of less than 36 inches or 91 centimeters.

These numbers will give an WtHR that is just under 0.5.

In a study published by Trusted Source the same year in PLOS One Researchers concluded that WtHR was a more reliable indicator of mortality than BMI.

The authors also referenced findings from a different study that included data from around 300,000 people across different ethnic groups . The study found that WHtR was more effective than BMI in predicting strokes, heart attacks, hypertension, and diabetes.

This suggests that the WHtR can be an effective screening tool.

The measurements that take waist size into consideration can be excellent indicators of an individual's health risk because the fat that accumulates in the middle of the body can cause harm to kidneys, the heart, and the liver.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source informs us that a male who has a waist measurement of 40 inches or more or a woman who has a waist size of 35 inches or more has an increased risk than other individuals of:

• Type 2 diabetes
• high blood pressure
• coronary arterial disease

This does not, however, take a person's height or hip size into consideration.MEDICAL NEWS TODAY NEWSLETTERKnowledge is power. Subscribe to our daily newsletter for free.

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4. Method: Body fat percentage

The percentage of body fat is the amount of fat a person's divided by their weight total.

The total body fat is comprised of essential fats and storage fats.

essential fat A person requires vital fats to live. It is involved in a variety of bodily functions. For males, it's recommended to maintain between 2 and 4 percent of their body weight as essential fat. For women, the number is between 10 and 13 percent, as per the American Council on Exercise (ACE).

storage fat The fat tissue is a shield for internal organs of the abdomen and chest, and the body may use it when needed for energy.

In addition to the general guidelines for women and men, the ideal fat percentage will depend on the body type of a person or level of activity.

ACE suggests these percentages of arithmetic:

Level of activity	Female body type	Body type female
Athletes	6-13%	14-20%
Fit non-athletes	14-17%	21-24%
Acceptable	18-25%	25-31%
Overweight	26-37%	32-41%
Obesity	38 percent or more	42 percent or more

A higher proportion of body fat could indicate an increased risk of

• Diabetes
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• stroke

The calculation of body fat percentage could be an effective method to gauge a person's fitness level since it is a reflection of the body's composition. BMI is, however, does not differentiate between muscle mass and fat.

How do you measure body fat

The most popular method of measuring the body fat percentage is using the measurement of a skinfold, which utilizes special calipers to squeeze the skin.

The doctor will assess tissues on the thigh, abdomen, chest (for males)) or the upper arm (for women). The methods provide a precise reading of around 3.5 percent, as per ACE.

Other methods include Trusted Source:

• measurement of body fat in hydrostatic fluids, also known as "underwater weighing"
• air densitometry, which is a method to measure the displacement of air
• Dual energies X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
• Bioelectrical impedance analysis

None of them can provide 100% accuracy However, they are accurate enough to provide an acceptable evaluation.

A lot of gyms and doctor's offices are equipped with devices to measure the body fat percentage of a person.

Video

In this video by What Matters Nutrition, David Brewer, a registered dietician, takes a look at the question of ideal weight, discussing many of the points raised above.https://www.youtube.com/embed/CjYBL9rsM5I?enablejsapi=1&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.medicalnewstoday.com&widgetid=1

Takeaway

The Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), and body-fat percentage are all four methods of assessing the weight of a person who is healthy.

Combining them is the most effective way to get an accurate understanding of whether it is worth doing something or not.

Anyone worried regarding their waist, weight, or body shape should talk to a nutritionist or doctor. They can provide advice on the best options.