Posted by shalina

Your ideal weight means different things to different people. For instance, compare a physician’s and a fashion model’s answer to this question and you’ll get quite different answers! So how do you determine your body’s ideal weight? Before we can answer this question we need to look at the standard method used in calculating a person’s ideal body weight.

Body Mass Indicator (BMI)

This is a figure that is calculated by dividing an individual’s body weight by the square of their height. BMI came into use after 1980 when obesity started to become a problem in North America. The body mass index provides a standard way of measuring a person’s relative body density. In other words it measures how fat (or how thin) you are.

Accuracy of the BMI

Although the BMI number is often used by physicians, its accuracy depends on things like a person’s fitness level, muscle mass, bone structure, gender, and ethnic background. People like body builders would have higher BMI numbers than average because they have a greater muscle mass (muscle is made up of denser tissue than fat). So when you compare the ‘average’ BMI to your own value you have to take these other factors into account.

Subjectivity

We often tend to be somewhat critical of our own bodies, thinking we are not quite where we should be. This is never truer than when we are looking at our weight. How many times have you heard the statement “I’d just like to lose 20 lbs”! The best way to get an objective assessment of your weight is to visit your physician or a licensed dietician.

After you have calulated your BMI value, what does this mean in determining your body’s ideal weight? The chart below gives an interpretation of the BMI value.

 BMI
      Below 18.5:     Underweight

            18.6 - 24.9:      Normal

            25.0 - 29.9:      Overweight

            30.0 and up:   Obese

Body Ideal Weight Chart

A much simpler way to find your ideal body weight is to just use the chart below. Remember though that this is only approximate and you may be outside of the suggested range for any of the reasons mentioned above (fitness level, muscle mass, bone structure, gender, ethnic background)

  Female

Ht. Ideal Weight Range

5′ 0″  90 - 110 lbs.

5′ 1″  95 - 116 lbs.

5′ 2″  99 - 121 lbs.

5′ 3″ 104 - 127 lbs.

5′ 4″ 108 - 132 lbs.

5′ 5″ 113 - 138 lbs.

5′ 6″ 117 - 143 lbs.

5′ 7″ 122 - 149 lbs.

5′ 8″ 126 - 154 lbs.

5′ 9″ 131 - 160 lbs.

5′ 10″ 135 - 165 lbs.

5′ 11″ 140 - 171 lbs.

6′ 0″ 144 - 176 lbs.

  Male

Ht. Ideal Weight Range

5′ 0″  95 - 117 lbs.

5′ 1″ 101 - 123 lbs.

5′ 2″ 106 - 130 lbs.

5′ 3″ 112 - 136 lbs.

5′ 4″ 117 - 143 lbs.

5′ 5″ 122 - 150 lbs.

5′ 6″ 128 - 156 lbs.

5′ 7″ 133 - 163 lbs.

5′ 8″ 139 - 169 lbs.

5′ 9″ 144 - 176 lbs.

5′ 10″ 149 - 183 lbs.

5′ 11″ 155 - 189 lbs.

6′ 0″ 160 - 196 lbs.

Conclusion

This article is meant to be an introduction to the concept of the body mass index and your ideal weight. There is lots of information available on the web. And, if you are at all concerned about your weight, the best place to start is with a visit to your physician.

Copyright 2007, Mike Stapenhurst

Mike is a long-time runner and walker. He is the developer of customized training logbooks for athletes at http://www.personallogs.com He also publishes a website “26.2″ about marathon running at http://www.marathon.ipcor.com. Find out more about BMI and your body’s ideal weight at the ‘Get In Shape’ website at http://www.getinshape.ipcor.com/body-ideal-weight.htm