How Much Should I Weigh for My Height?

Height, sex, and bone density. Some people suggest that calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI) is the best way to decide whether your body weight is ideal. BMI is faulty as it does not account for muscle mass and that waist-hip ratio is better.

One person's ideal body weight may be completely different from another's. High if you are surrounded by obese or overweight people, or too low if everyone around you works as fashion models. Even comparing yourself with people outside your immediate surroundings may not work.

The levels of overweight and obesity in one country, such as the USA or UK, are much higher than in The Netherlands. Aim for a lower ideal weight than an American if all he did was to compare himself to other people. A recent study may have turned national guidelines on people’s ideal weight on its head.

Overweight people have a lower all-cause mortality risk compared to those of normal weight. Is Body Mass Index (BMI) a good measure? Your BMI is your weight in relation to your height.

Weight 80 kilograms. Height 1.8 meters. 80 divided by 3.24 = BMI 24.69.

Imperial units: Your weight (pounds) times 703, divided by the square of your height in inches. Weight 190 pounds. People with a BMI of less than 18.5 are underweight.

A BMI of between 18.5 and 25 is ideal. Somebody with a BMI between 25 and 30 is classed as overweight. A person with a BMI over 30 is obese.

In some countries health authorities say the lower limit for BMI is 20, anything below it is underweight. To calculate your BMI you can use our metric BMI calculator below (requires Flash) or, alternatively, use our use our more comprehensive BMI Calculator. What is the problem with BMI?

How much should I weigh for my height is a question we all ask ourselves at one time or another. Although there is no exact number for any person, no matter what their height, age or gender there are certain healthy averages we can use to help guide us. However, you must remember that an average never tells the whole picture and you should not make any snap assumptions based on it.

Below is a table which gives an average weight range for both men and women according to their height and frame size. However, if you would like a more detailed approach to your personal ideal weight then keep on reading below. How To Calculate Your Exact Ideal Weight?

If you would like to answer the question “How much should I weigh” in a more specific and personal way then you have two options available to you. Firstly, you can visit a nutritionist or a medical professional and have them make a professional analysis and thus determine your most healthy ideal weight. This is not for everyone because it obviously costs money and it may even be too specific for some people.

Secondly, you can make some easy calculations which will give you a good idea of what weight you should be. Calculating your BMI (Body Mass Index) and also measuring your waist size will give you a pretty good indicator if you are in good health weight wise. To learn how to calculate your BMI read How many calories should I eat a day, I have written a simple but detailed article on how you should calculate it there.

Once you have made the calculations, you can look at the below BMI ranges to determine if you are in top shape or not.

Your body fat percentage is the weight of your fat divided by your total weight. The result indicates your essential fat as well as storage fat. Essential fat - this is the amount of fat we need to survive.

Women require a higher percentage than men. Essential fat is 2%-5% in men, and 10%-13% in women. Storage fat - this consists of fat accumulation in adipose tissue, some of which protects our internal organs in the chest and abdomen.

Total body fat percentage - this is essential fat plus storage fat. That includes the body's true composition. Body fat percentage would not make the couch potato seem fitter than the 100 meter Olympic champion - as was the case with BMI.

There are various ways of calculating a person's body fat percentage. Accepted as fairly close. Examples include near-infrared interactance, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Many gyms and doctor's practices have devices that can tell you what your body fat percentage is. This article has briefly explained four ways to help you find out whether your weight is ideal, and what your target should be if it is not. You can work out your BMI (body mass index), WHR (waist-hip ratio), WHtR (waist-height ratio) or Body Fat Percentage.

BMI, WHR and WHtR can be done easily in your home. WHR and WHtR are more accurate than BMI. Person - not an Olympic athlete or a dedicated weight trainer.

Probably increase your muscle mass, which may increase your weight, even though your waist may shrink. Muscle weighs more than fat. It might be better to aim for target waist, hips and chest measurements.

A Waist-hip ratio goal is also possible.