This is a question that plagues the minds of many individuals today, especially youngsters who are increasingly becoming conscious about their body image. The truth is that there is no singular ideal body weight and height. ‘Ideal’ is subjective as what might be the ideal measurements for you might not be for someone else. People tend to be healthy in a variety of shapes and sizes.
However, what you can know and what might help is the ideal range of body weight for you. To determine health risks, you can also find out about other measurements like your waist circumference, etc. Charts have been prepared by healthcare facilities and doctors to provide guidance but it is best not to treat them as words of God.
If you are working towards certain health goals, it is best to take help from a primary healthcare provider who knows your medical history. To determine your healthy range, this provider will take into consideration your sex, age, muscle mass, bone mass, and overall lifestyle choices.
BMI Chart
The BMI or Body Mass Index is a measurement that calculates your body mass. It predicts the amount of body fat based on your height and weight. Here is a BMI chart for you:
- <19: Underweight
- 19 to 24: Normal
- 25 to 29: Overweight
- 30-39: Obese
- 40 or above: Extreme obesity
The higher your BMI is, the more prone you are to serious health conditions. As your BMI increases, you will be exposed to conditions like:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Heart disease
- Gallstones
- Respiratory problems
- Type 2 diabetes
- Particular kinds of cancer
Weight and height guide chart
Here is a weight and height guide chart that has been prepared following the BMI tables retrieved from the National Institutes of Health website.
| Height | Normal Weight
BMI 19-24 |
Overweight
BMI 25-29 |
Obesity
BMI 30-39 |
Severe Obesity
BMI 40+ |
| 5 ft (60 in”) | 97-123 lb | 128-148 lb | 153-199 lb | 204-276 lb |
| 5 ft 1 in (61 in) | 100-127 lb | 132–153 lb | 158–206 lb | 211-285 lb |
| 5 ft 2 in (62 in) | 104-131 lb | 136-158 lb | 164-213 lb | 218-295 lb |
| 5 ft 3 in (63 in) | 107-135 lb | 141-163 lb | 169-220 lb | 225-304 lb |
| 5 ft 4 in (64 in) | 110-140 lb | 145-169 lb | 174-227 lb | 232-314 lb |
| 5 ft 5 in (65 in) | 114-144 lb | 150-174 lb | 180-234 lb | 240-324 lb |
| 5 ft 6 in (66 in) | 118-148 lb | 155-179 lb | 186-241 lb | 247-334 lb |
The list goes like this. However, there are certain problems with BMI measurements. While it takes height and weight into consideration, it leaves out the measurement of hip or waist, the distribution of fat, and the proportion of muscle mass.
Waist to Hip Ratio
Your waist-to-hip ratio or WHR compares the size of your waist to that of your hips. People with high WHR are more prone to diabetes and CVD as their bodies contain higher levels of visceral fat.
Summing up
There are other ways of finding out your body measurements and whether or not they are “ideal” such as the waist-to-height ratio (WHR) or the body fat percentage. Determining the ideal range for these and then comparing your measurements can help you understand your health and the steps you can take to improve it.
