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- Essentially, ideal body weight is defined as the weight at which a person has the lowest risk of death. Another way to look at ideal body weight is that it’s also the weight at which a person is getting all the nutrition they need to be as healthy as possible.
www.healthline.com › health › ideal-body-weightIdeal Body Weight: What Is It and How to Calculate - Healthline
Aug 7, 2024 · Ideal body weight can be useful as one way of assessing a person’s health. It can help determine if a person might be overweight (or underweight) and at increased risk for certain...
People also ask
Why is ideal body weight important?
What is ideal body weight?
What is a healthy weight?
- Overview
- What’s an ideal weight for you?
- How is body weight measured?
- How much should I weigh?
- Tips on how to manage your body weight
- Frequently asked questions
- Takeaway
Your ideal weight depends on several factors, such as height, age, sex, and underlying health conditions, among others. Some tips may help you achieve your weight goals in a sustainable, safe, and healthy way.
It’s not uncommon to step on the scale and wonder whether you’re at a healthy weight.
Your body weight may affect your health in many ways. For example, having underweight or overweight may increase your risk of illness and decrease your mental health and overall quality of life.
However, it’s important to understand that your overall health cannot be measured by body weight alone.
Weight fluctuates with body size, so there’s no “ideal” body weight for all people.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, several factors may influence your body weight. These may include:
•lifestyle and dietary habits
•age
•underlying health conditions
•genetics
Body mass index (BMI) is the most common tool used to assess body weight. It uses your height and weight to give you a number value that is classified into the following categories:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that BMI numbers may help estimate whether you have high or low body fat. It may also help predict chronic disease and mortality risk related to both underweight and overweight status.
However, BMI numbers shouldn’t be the only diagnostic tool used to determine your health or body fat levels. BMI doesn’t account for many other factors that could influence your healthy body weight, such as:
•sex
•body frame
•age
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Insitute (NHLBI) provides body weight amounts in pounds (lbs) related to height (inches) and BMI. To calculate your BMI you can use the NHLBI‘s calculator.
The following table may provide a clearer image of where your weight falls in the BMI classification. However, it’s important to note that the table doesn’t include BMI below 19, which may indicate underweight.
Tips for healthy weight loss
Weight loss is complicated. What’s best for you may not be best for someone else. That said, these tips can help most people safely lose weight: •aim for 150–300 minutes of physical activity each week •respect your body composition and set realistic weight loss goals •eat nutrient-dense, whole foods •avoid ultra-processed, processed, and fried foods •create a calorie deficit of 300–500 calories •choose high protein foods •avoid weight loss cleanses •avoid extreme calorie restriction •avoid unnecessary supplements If you don’t know where to start, speak with a registered dietitian. They can help you create a healthy, sustainable weight loss nutrition plan based on your needs. A certified personal trainer can help you reach your fitness goals.
Healthy ways to gain weight
Here are some healthy and safe methods to help you gain muscle mass and body weight. •choose high calorie, high protein foods •avoid dirty bulking •consider taking a weight gainer or protein supplement •add more frequent high protein snacks to your diet •exercise to increase your muscle mass and strength Talk with a healthcare professional if you’re losing weight, can’t seem to gain weight, or struggling to maintain your body weight even when you’re eating adequate calories. They can help make sure your weight loss isn’t the result of an underlying medical condition.
Help with eating disorders
It’s important to note that tips on weight management may not be appropriate for people living with an eating disorder, such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. If you have an eating disorder, it’s critical to get the right help from a healthcare team consisting of a specialist physician, therapist, and registered dietitian. If you’re interested in getting help for your eating disorder, contact the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders helpline by calling 1 (888) 375-7767. Was this helpful?
What weight should I be for my age?
There is no “right” weight for your age because sizes among age groups vary drastically. Most assessments look at body weight using physical metrics like height, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage.
What is a good weight size?
The CDC notes that a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is a healthy body weight range. That said, it’s important to note that BMI doesn’t take into account many factors that may contribute to healthy body weight, such as muscle mass, age, ethnicity, and body composition, among others. If you’re unsure about your body weight size, speak with a healthcare professional. They can accurately assess your body weight using several diagnostic tests.
Maintaining a healthy body weight is important for disease prevention, quality of life, mental health, and more.
However, it’s important to remember that everyone has a different healthy body weight. This may depend on several factors, such as your height, sex, muscle mass, age, and ethnicity.
Whether you’d like to lose, gain, or maintain weight, it’s important to do so in a sustainable way that supports your overall health.
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- Jillian Kubala, MS, RD
Nov 30, 2023 · 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...
- Yvette Brazier
But the good news is that even a modest weight loss of 5% of your current body weight is likely to produce several health benefits, including improvements in blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood sugars, physical mobility, and quality of life.
Jul 26, 2022 · The traditional ideal weight calculation is a rule of thumb rather than based on health research or a comprehensive study of population averages. For women: ideal body weight (in kilograms) = 49kg + 1.7kg for each inch over 5 feet. For men: ideal body weight (in kilograms) = 52kg + 1.9kg for each inch over 5 feet.
- Wendy Bumgardner
Jan 12, 2024 · Getty Creative. What Is a “Healthy” Body Weight? Weight Chart by Height. Weight Chart by Age and Gender. Other Helpful Ways to Determine Your Ideal Body Weight. What Are the...
Jan 5, 2023 · Measure Your Waist. How Do I Get to the Right Weight? Long-term Changes Are Best. 4 min read. Many Americans struggle to control their weight. The country’s obesity problem is well known: 1 in 3...
