How Much Should I Weigh For My Height And Age? BMI Calculator ...

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Medical News TodaySubscribeHow much should I weigh for my height and age?

Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — Written by Yvette Brazier — Updated on September 4, 2024

Body mass index (BMI)
Weight and height guide
Waist-to-hip ratio
Waist-to-height ratio
Body-fat percentage
FAQ
Summary

Key takeaways

BMI is a tool that uses height and weight to estimate a healthy weight range, but it has limitations because it doesn’t consider body composition, muscle mass, or differences among racial and ethnic groups.
The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) are alternative tools that can help assess body size and potential health risks by measuring abdominal fat, but they also have limitations and should be considered alongside other health assessments.
Body fat percentage is a more direct measure of body composition that provides useful information about health. It can be measured using skinfold measurements.

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Learn more.

Tools to calculate a moderate weight range rely on factors such as age, height, and sex assigned at birth. However, everybody is different, and no single formula can determine a person’s ideal weight.

No one measure of body size can tell a person their exact health status or potential health risks. Eating a nutritious, balanced diet, exercising, and other lifestyle habits can support improved health regardless of a person’s weight.

There is some disagreement among medical experts about the usefulness of tools such as body mass index (BMI). These tools are not exact, and not everyone with excess weight will develop health issues.

However, some researchers believe people with obesity who have no other health conditions are still at increased risk for developing obesity-linked conditions, such as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, in the long term.

People who want to learn more about their current health status, future risks, and ways to improve health can benefit from speaking with their doctor.

Read on to discover several tools that help estimate a person’s moderate weight range.

Body mass index (BMI)

Shadows of people of different heights. — Attila Csomor/EyeEm/Getty Images

BMI is a common tool that measures a person’s weight in relation to their height. A BMI calculation provides a single number, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorizes as follows:

A BMI of less than 18.5 suggests underweight.
A BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9 suggests a healthy weight range.
A BMI of between 25 and 29.9 may indicate overweight.
A BMI of 30 or higher may indicate obesity.

However, the CDC also notes that BMI does not assess an individual’s body composition or health. It is a screening tool that people should use alongside other tests and assessments to determine potential health risks.

Body mass index calculator

A person can use BMI calculators or review the charts below to calculate BMI.

What is the recommended weight for my height?

The following weight and height chart uses BMI tables from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to provide a general guideline for categories of moderate (“normal”) weight, overweight, obesity, and severe obesity.

Height	Moderate weightBMI 19–24	OverweightBMI 25–29	ObesityBMI 30–39	Severe obesityBMI 40+
4 ft 10 in(58 in)	91–115 lb	119–138 lb	143–186 lb	191–258 lb
4 ft 11 in(59 in)	94–119 lb	124–143 lb	148–193 lb	198–267 lb
5ft(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
5 ft 7 in(67 in)	121–153 lb	159–185 lb	191–249 lb	255–344 lb
5 ft 8 in(68 in)	125–158 lb	164–190 lb	197–256 lb	262–354 lb
5 ft 9 in(69 in)	128–162 lb	169–196 lb	203–263 lb	270–365 lb
5 ft 10 in(70 in)	132–167 lb	174–202 lb	209–271 lb	278–376 lb
5 ft 11 in(71 in)	136–172 lb	179–208 lb	215–279 lb	286–386 lb
6 ft(72 in)	140–177 lb	184–213 lb	221–287 lb	294–397 lb
6 ft 1 in(73 in)	144–182 lb	189–219 lb	227–295 lb	302–408 lb
6 ft 2 in(74 in)	148–186 lb	194–225 lb	233–303 lb	311–420 lb
6 ft 3 in(75 in)	152–192 lb	200–232 lb	240–311 lb	319–431 lb
6 ft 4 in(76 in)	156–197 lb	205–238 lb	246–320 lb	328–443 lb

BMI is just one tool to understand body size, and it does not account for all of the ways that people’s bodies may differ. A person can talk with their doctor if they have questions about calculating or interpreting their BMI score.

BMI based on age

Age is not a factor in BMI for adults, but it is for children. This is because children typically grow larger with age. The CDC uses both age and sex assigned at birth in its BMI calculations for people between the ages of 2–19 years.

To calculate a child’s BMI, a person can use the CDC’s calculator for children and teenagers.

The CDC’s BMI charts for children use percentiles that compare measurements with boys and girls of the same age and gender.

If a person has questions about their child’s BMI, they should consult a doctor.

What is the problem with BMI?

BMI is a very basic measurement. While it takes height and weight into consideration, it does not account for factors such as:

waist or hip measurements
the proportion or distribution of fat
the proportion of muscle mass

These factors can affect health. For example, high-performance athletes tend to have a lot of muscle and little body fat. They can have a high BMI because they have more muscle mass, but this does not mean they weigh too much for their height.

Another limitation of BMI is that it does not distinguish between people of different racial or ethnic groups. Indeed, a 2021 study found significant racial disparities in BMI and body fat distribution.

For example, non-Hispanic Black women were found to have higher BMI but lower levels of liver enzyme Alanine aminotransferase (ALT). This suggests that non-Hispanic Black women may have a different, potentially healthier fat distribution compared to other groups.

This inaccuracy may lead to a misdiagnosis or an incorrect assessment of risk factors between individuals.

BMI can offer a rough idea of whether or not a person is at a moderate weight, and it is useful for measuring trends in population studies.

However, it should not be the only measure an individual uses to assess whether their weight is ideal.

Learn more about the limitations of BMI.

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)

A person’s WHR compares their waist size with that of their hips. A high WHR is associated with higher levels of visceral fat, the fat in the abdominal cavity that surrounds several major organs.

For this reason, the WHR can be a useful tool for understanding potential health risks when considered alongside other assessments of health status.

A 2018 meta-analysis suggests that having a high WHR can put people at a higher risk of myocardial infarction, or heart attack.

Measuring WHR

To calculate their WHR, a person should measure around their waist at the narrowest part, usually just above the belly button. They can then divide this measurement by the width of their hip at its widest part.

For example, if a person’s waist is 28 inches (in) and their hips are 36 in, they will divide 28 by 36, giving a WHR of 0.77.

What does it mean?

Using WHR, a 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) report defines abdominal obesity as follows:

In males: WHR over 0.9
In females: WHR over 0.85

However, as with BMI, the WHR does have limitations. For example, this measure does not account for a person’s total body fat percentage or their muscle-to-fat ratio accurately.

Optimal WHR differs based on sex assigned at birth as well as race and ethnicity, according to the 2008 WHO report.

Plus, body size is not a direct measure of health. Anyone assessing body size needs to take a person’s overall health status into consideration.

Weight management resources

To discover more evidence-based information and resources for weight management, visit our dedicated hub.

Waist-to-height ratio

The waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) is another tool to assess body size. It compares a person’s waist circumference to their height.

According to 2015 research, higher WtHR has associations with worse cholesterol and blood pressure, even at a healthy BMI. For this reason, WtHR may be helpful when assessing health risks when used along with other measures of health.

Measuring WtHR

To calculate WtHR, divide waist size by height. If the result is 0.5 or less, that is considered moderate.

Measurements that take waist size into account can help to provide insight into an individual’s health risks.

A 2023 study analyzed data from 20 studies and found that higher WHtR levels significantly increased the risk of all-cause mortality by 23% and cardiovascular mortality by 39%.

While population-level studies are important, individual health is about more than waist size alone. A person should talk with their doctor if they have concerns about the health risks that may have links to a higher WtHR.Learn how to measure the waist.

Body fat percentage

Body fat percentage is the weight of a person’s fat divided by their total weight. This includes fat found in many different parts of the body.

Body fat is necessary for the human body to function. An individual needs a type called essential fat to survive — it is critical for the development of the brain, bone marrow, nerves, and membranes.

Other types of fat protect the internal organs in the chest and abdomen, and the body can use it if necessary for energy.

Recommendations

Apart from the approximate guidelines for males and females, the ideal total fat percentage can depend on a person’s body type or activity level.

Typically, obesity is associated with a high proportion of body fat. Obesity and overweight can carry a greater risk for conditions such as:

diabetes
heart disease
high blood pressure
stroke

Calculating body fat percentage can provide useful information because it reflects body composition, unlike BMI, WHR, and WtHR.

Learn more about body fat levels by age and sex.

How to measure body fat

One way to measure body fat percentage is to use a skinfold measurement, which uses special calipers to pinch the skin.

A health professional will measure tissue on the thigh, abdomen, and chest for males or the upper arm for females.

Other measures include

hydrostatic body fat measuring, or underwater weighing
air densitometry, which measures air displacement
dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
bioelectrical impedance analysis

While none of these can give a completely accurate reading, the estimates can be close enough to offer a reasonable assessment.

Learn more about the different ways to measure body fat.

Frequently asked questions

Below are some commonly asked questions about weight, height, and age.

How much should you weigh for your age?

Body mass index (BMI) measurements do not take into account a person’s age. Therefore, based on BMI, it is not possible to suggest an ideal weight for a person’s age.

Rather, a person’s ideal BMI is based on their weight and height.

How do I determine my ideal weight?

One method a person can use to determine their ideal weight is body mass index (BMI) measurements.

This involves dividing a person’s weight (in kilograms) by the square of their height (in meters) to arrive at a BMI score.

What is a good weight for a 5′ 4″ female?

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a good weight for a person who is 5 foot (ft) 4 inches (in) tall ranges from 110–140 pounds (lbs).

Summary

An ideal body weight can mean different things to different people.

BMI, WHR, WtHR, and body-fat percentage are four ways of assessing weight status. Combining results from them may be the best way to get an accurate idea of whether a person’s body size is considered moderate.

However, body size alone does not offer a complete picture of a person’s health.

Anyone with concerns about their weight, waist size, or body composition should speak with a doctor about their individual health and how to manage any potential risk factors.

Diabetes
Hypertension
Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Adult BMI categories. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/adult-calculator/bmi-categories.html
Ashwell M, et al. (2016). Waist-to-height ratio as an indicator of ‘early health risk’: Simpler and more predictive than using a ‘matrix’ based on BMI and waist circumference.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/6/3/e010159.full.pdf
Body mass index table. (n.d.).https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmi_tbl.pdf
Cao Q, et al. Waist-hip ratio as a predictor of myocardial infarction risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6078643/
Child and teen BMI calculator. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/child-teen-calculator/index.html
Child and teen BMI categories. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/child-teen-calculator/bmi-categories.html
Dezfouli RA, et al. (2023). Waist to height ratio as a simple tool for predicting mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37770574/
Health risks of overweight & obesity. (2023).https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/adult-overweight-obesity/health-risks
Jayedi A, et al. (2020). Central fatness and risk of all cause mortality: Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 72 prospective cohort studies.https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3324
Karnes JH, et al. (2021). Racial, ethnic, and gender differences in obesity and body fat distribution: An All of Us Research Program demonstration project.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0255583
Mongraw-Chaffin M, et al. (2018). Metabolically healthy obesity, transition to metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular risk.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S073510971833496X?via%3Dihub
Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation. (2008).https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241501491
What's the best way to measure body fat? (2024).https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/weight/best-way-to-measure-body-fat
Wu Y, et al. (2024). Advantages and limitations of the body mass index (BMI) to assess adult obesity.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/6/757

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Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — Written by Yvette Brazier — Updated on September 4, 2024

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