How Much Should I Weigh for My Height

Talk about controlling weight, losing extra kilos, or just staying fit, the first thing that comes to our mind is the recommended weight for our height and age. Indeed, maintaining normal weight according to the height is one of the best approaches to stay healthy. On the contrary, being overweight or obese increases the risks for certain lifestyle diseases, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), heart problems, cardiovascular diseases, and in severe cases, mobility problems and disability.

All About Height to Weight Ratio

In today's scenario, it is a concerning fact that the number of people (irrespective of the age and gender) whose average weight falls above the normal range is increasing day by day. While childhood obesity is a global problem, the percentage of children afflicted with obesity is higher in the developed countries. Main factors that contribute to unwanted weight gain include poor diet comprising high amounts of processed foods, unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical exercises, and a stressful lifestyle.

In medical science, the height to weight ratio chart is crucially followed by health practitioners for examining the overall health of an individual. It is used as a reference chart for people falling in the age group 18 - 60. Those below 18 years have the tendency to increase height gradually, thus affecting the height-weight ratio. In case, you are concerned about the weight and height measurement units, you can refer to the weight and height conversion chart for clearing your doubts.

What Should be the Ideal Weight for My Height?

While controlling weight within a healthy range largely depends upon your height, there is no exact answer for the normal weight with respect to specific height. This is because the criterion for estimating weight varies, depending upon the body type, body structure, and bone density. For better understanding, consider an example of a normal person and a bodybuilder having the same height. As muscle weighs more than fat, the ideal body weight for the bodybuilder with respect to his height will be greater than the normal person, even if their heights are equal.

As for the difference in ideal weight range according to body frame, assume that two adult females have the same height (5'5") but different body frames (one has a small frame and another has a large frame). The healthy weight for them are 117 - 130 pounds and 137 - 155 pounds, respectively. Likewise, the correct weight values of an adult male and an adult female vary significantly even if their height is the same. This way, the ideal weight for people with the same height varies under certain circumstances. Let's take a look at the height and weight chart for men and women (average weight range is given in the table).

Ideal Height to Weight Chart for Males and Females

Height	Ideal Male Weight	Ideal Female Weight
5'1"	134	122
5'2"	137	125
5'3"	139	128
5'4"	142	133
5'5"	145	136
5'6"	148	140
5'7"	151	143
5'8"	154	146
5'9"	157	150
5'10"	160	153
5'11"	164	156
6'0"	167	159

Height: Feet/Inch, Weight: Pounds

For estimating healthy weight according to your height and body frame, check out the application Ideal Weight for Adults.

How to Calculate Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Another reliable method to estimate the healthy weight corresponding to the height is the body mass index (BMI). It is very easy to find out your body mass index. All you need to do is measure your height in inches and weight in pounds and jot down the values. BMI is calculated by using the formula (Weight in Pounds / ( Height in inches ) x ( Height in inches ) ) x 703. Following is a classification of the weight categories according to the respective BMI value:

• Underweight - An individual is categorized as underweight if the calculated BMI is below 18.5.
• Normal Weight - The BMI of a healthy person having normal weight should fall within the range 18.5 to 24.9.
• Overweight - In case the BMI of a person is between 25 - 29.9, he/she is overweight.
• Obese - BMI for an obese person is equal to or more than 30.

If you are interested in calculating body mass index (BMI), you can check out the application BMI Calculator.

With reference to the above BMI classification, if a person belongs to the normal weight category, it indicates that he/she is following a balanced diet. It is obvious than an underweight person should gain weight by including more nutritious food items in his/her diet. On the contrary, overweight and obese people should cut down the consumption of fatty foods and drinks for losing weight. They can include fresh fruits, vegetables, and other fiber rich foods in the diet and perform physical activities to burn excess calories.

Though the BMI system is globally followed for determining whether a person's body weight is ideal or not, it has certain drawbacks. In this method, muscle mass and waist are not considered. Hence, bodybuilders often come under the overweight category. So, there are some limitations of the BMI chart. Regarding the proper weight for height and age, age does influence a lot in the body metabolism. As one grows older, his/her metabolic processes slowed down and the chances of putting on weight are higher. Hence, losing weight at that particular age requires some extra effort coupled with a strong determination.

To sum up, height-weight ratio, waist size (35 inches for women and 40 inches are maximum limits), age, and preexisting ailments (if any) should be taken into consideration to confirm whether a person is actually fit or not. And in addition to consuming healthy diet, regular exercise is a must for everyone to remain healthy and disease-free, regardless of the weight category to which he/she belongs.