Many people wish to know the answer to this question: how much should I weigh? However, there is no single ideal weight for all individuals.
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.
Everybody is different, and various factors play a role in determining each person’s ideal weight. These factors can be biological, such as age, height, and natal sex, but mental factors can be just as important.
An individual may define their ideal weight as the one with which they feel the most comfortable.
However, maintaining a moderate weight can reduce a person’s risk of developing a number of health conditions, including: However, not everyone with excess weight will develop health issues. However, researchers believe that while this extra weight might not currently affect health, difficulties in managing weight could lead to problems in the future.
BMI is a common tool that measures a person’s weight in relation to their height. A BMI calculation provides a single number, which falls into the following categoriesTrusted Source:
This BMI calculator is for informational purposes only. Consult a healthcare provider before making health decisions. BMI is an indirect assessment of health risk and may not be accurate because it cannot determine the proportion or distribution of body fat. BMI calculator source: National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The following weight and height chart uses BMI tables from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)Trusted Source to determine how much a person’s weight should be for their height.
Age is not a factor in BMI for adults, but it is for children. This is because they are growing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source use both age and natal sex 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 calculatorTrusted Source for children and teenagers.The CDC’s BMI charts for children use percentiles that compare measurements with boysTrusted Source and girlsTrusted Source of the same age and gender. What is the problem with BMI?
BMI is a very simple measurement. While it takes height 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.
