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.

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