How Much Should I Weigh for My Age and Height?
The ideal body weight for age and height is a little different for everyone; it’s based on gender, body fat percentage, build, and other factors. Average American weights heights are considered obese -- about 170 lbs./5’3” for women and 197 lbs./5’9” for men -- so “average” doesn’t mean “healthy.”
A person’s ideal weight depends on a number of factors, such as:
- Gender
- Height
- Frame size
- Fat and muscle proportion
According to The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the average weight, height, and waist measurement for American adults age 20 years and older is:
- Women
- Average weight: 170.5 pounds
- Average height: 5 feet, 3.6 inches tall
- Average waist measurement: 38.7 inches
- Men
- Average weight: 197.8 pounds
- Average height: 5 feet, 9 inches tall
- Average waist measurement: 40.3 inches
Though these are averages, it does not mean these weights are ideal for health. The CDC also found the average American adult’s body mass index (BMI), a calculation based on height and weight that can provide an estimate of total body fat, was 29.6 for women and 29.1 for men, both of which are considered overweight.
How Can BMI Be Used to Determine Ideal Weight?
BMI (body mass index) is a tool doctors use to determine if a person is overweight, and to what degree. BMI is often used to determine ideal weight ranges. In adults, BMI does not correlate to age.
BMI is used slightly differently in children, in that it is calculated the same way as it is for adults, but then the ranges are compared to percentiles for children of the same age and sex.
BMI is calculated from the weight and square of the height:
BMI = body weight (in kg) ÷ height (in meters) squared
- BMI less than 18.5: Below normal weight
- BMI 18.5 to under 24.9: Normal weight
- BMI 25 to under 29.9: Overweight
- BMI 30 to under 34.9: Class I Obesity
- BMI 35 to under 39.9: Class II Obesity
- BMI 40 or greater: Class III Obesity
91–115 lbs. |
94–119 lbs. |
97–123 lbs. |
100–127 lbs. |
104–131 lbs. |
107–135 lbs. |
110–140 lbs. |
114–144 Ibs. |
118–148 lbs. |
121–153 lbs. |
125–158 lbs. |
128–162 lbs. |
132–167 lbs. |
136–172 lbs. |
140–177 lbs. |
144–182 lbs. |
148–186 lbs. |
152–192 lbs. |
QUESTION
Weight loss occurs in the belly before anywhere else. See AnswerFrom
Reviewed on 8/18/2022
References
"Ideal" body weight is a target weight derived from your height and gender. The following is a chart that you can use to estimate your "ideal" body weight range.
There are a variety of requirements to be eligible for bariatric surgery. One requirement is you would need to be about 100 pounds overweight.
- Your post-surgery goal weight will be determined by your bariatric health care team.
- Most patients achieve weight loss in the range of 50-80% of their excess weight after surgery.
- The weights listed in this table are not goal weights for patients undergoing bariatric surgery.
For example, if a woman is 5’4” and weighs 320 pounds, her “ideal weight” could be between 108-132 pounds. She is approximately 200 pounds above her ideal weight and could lose 100 pounds or more with weight loss surgery.
To learn more about weight loss surgery, attend a Banner Health information session or find a doctor near you and talk to a physician.
Male | Female | ||
Height | Ideal Body Weight | Height | Ideal Body Weight |
4' 6" | 63 - 77 lbs. | 4' 6" | 63 - 77 lbs. |
4' 7" | 68 - 84 lbs. | 4' 7" | 68 - 83 lbs. |
4' 8" | 74 - 90 lbs. | 4' 8" | 72 - 88 lbs. |
4' 9" | 79 - 97 lbs. | 4' 9" | 77 - 94 lbs. |
4' 10" | 85 - 103 lbs. | 4' 10" | 81 - 99 lbs. |
4' 11" | 90 - 110 lbs. | 4' 11" | 86 - 105 lbs. |
5' 0" | 95 - 117 lbs. | 5' 0" | 90 - 110 lbs. |
5' 1" | 101 - 123 lbs. | 5' 1" | 95 - 116 lbs. |
5' 2" | 106 - 130 lbs. | 5' 2" | 99 - 121 lbs. |
5' 3" | 112 - 136 lbs. | 5' 3" | 104 - 127 lbs. |
5' 4" | 117 - 143 lbs. | 5' 4" | 108 - 132 lbs. |
5' 5" | 122 - 150 lbs. | 5' 5" | 113 - 138 lbs. |
5' 6" | 128 - 156 lbs. | 5' 6" | 117 - 143 lbs. |
5' 7" | 133 - 163 lbs. | 5' 7" | 122 - 149 lbs. |
5' 8" | 139 - 169 lbs. | 5' 8" | 126 - 154 lbs. |
5' 9" | 144 - 176 lbs. | 5' 9" | 131 - 160 lbs. |
5' 10" | 149 - 183 lbs. | 5' 10" | 135 - 165 lbs. |
5' 11" | 155 - 189 lbs. | 5' 11" | 140 - 171 lbs. |
6' 0" | 160 - 196 lbs. | 6' 0" | 144 - 176 lbs. |
6' 1" | 166 - 202 lbs. | 6' 1" | 149 - 182 lbs. |
6' 2" | 171 - 209 lbs. | 6' 2" | 153 - 187 lbs. |
6' 3" | 176 - 216 lbs. | 6' 3" | 158 - 193 lbs. |
6' 4" | 182 - 222 lbs. | 6' 4" | 162 - 198 lbs. |
6' 5" | 187 - 229 lbs. | 6' 5" | 167 - 204 lbs. |
6' 6" | 193 - 235 lbs. | 6' 6" | 171 - 209 lbs. |
6' 7" | 198 - 242 lbs. | 6' 7" | 176 - 215 lbs. |
6' 8" | 203 - 249 lbs. | 6' 8" | 180 - 220 lbs. |
6' 9" | 209 - 255 lbs. | 6' 9" | 185 - 226 lbs. |
6' 10" | 214 - 262 lbs. | 6' 10" | 189 - 231 lbs. |
6' 11" | 220 - 268 lbs. | 6' 11" | 194 - 237 lbs. |
7' 0" | 225 - 275 lbs. | 7' 0" | 198 - 242 lbs. |
The original ideal body weight chart was developed by MET Life, 1943.