What is My Ideal Weight?
When is the last time you asked, “How much should I weigh?” An ideal weight calculator provides a quick and easy answer.
As parents who are concerned about the health of our kids, we often neglect our own fitness.
We all have a pretty good idea about how much we want to weigh in terms of our physical appearance.
But there doesn’t seem to be any concrete evidence to figure out exactly how much a person should weigh for optimal health.
However, there are some general guidelines available.
Though it’s difficult to come up with precise body weights, researchers have been able to provide some ranges that appear to be normal for most of the population.
These healthy weight ranges are based on the relationship between an individual’s weight and height or the relationship between their weight and percentage body fat.
People who fall outside of the upper and lower levels of these parameters are likely to experience more health problems than they would if they were within the range.
Though there are certainly some significant health problems associated with people who are seriously underweight, the biggest cause for concern in the United States is with those who are overweight.
Close to 70% of Americans struggle with being overweight.
There are several ways to predict an ideal body weight for women, men, and children:
The most common ideal body weight formula used in most ideal body weight calculators is based on the BMI.
This simple ideal weight calcultor will help you quickly determine your desired weight. Just plug in your current height and weight, and find out if you’re within a healthy range.
This tool is intended for adults only.
When determining the ideal weight for kids, other factors need to be considered, and an ideal body weight calculator for kids is more appropriate.
4 Popular Ideal Body Weight Formulas
Ideal Weight Calculator #1
Body Mass Index (BMI)
The National Center for Health Statistics developed an approach to determining ideal body weight by determining a person’s body fatness.
BMI = body weight in kilograms/(height in meters)²
- A BMI range of 20-25 is considered normal for both men and women
- BMI values over 27 have been associated with increased health risks
- A BMI greater than 30 is obese
- Those with a BMI over 40 are morbidly obese and in need of serious medical treatment
Though it has some limitations, the BMI is a good screening tool to alert you to any weight concerns.
Ideal Weight Calculator #2
Height-Weight Table
A popular method for determining a desirable body weight is by referring to height-weight tables developed by life insurance companies. The most notable of these are published by Metropolitan Life.
There are some problems with trying to make these measurements fit everyone because:
- They only include adults ages 25-29
- Height is measured with subjects wearing shoes with 1″ heels
- Men’s weights assume they’re wearing 5 pounds of indoor clothing
- Women’s weights assume they’re wearing 3 pounds of indoor clothing
Another problem is these tables don’t take into account body composition.
Measurements are obtained from large numbers of people, and only those values that cluster toward the middle are considered to be “normal.”
Two people could be the exact same height and weight and be considered to be “ideal” by the tables, but the distribution of their weight might be so different that one could actually be very muscular while the other one is obese.
Ideal Weight Calculator #3
Body Fat Percentage
The BMI and Height-Weight methods don’t take into account a person’s body composition. As a result, someone who is very muscular with a low percent of body fat may be classified as obese by either of them.
If you have equipment available to determine percent body fat, this approach may provide a more reasonable calculation of your ideal body weight.
The table below classifies various levels of percentage body fat:
% Body Fat Levels
| RATING | MALES (18-30 yrs) | FEMALES (18-30 yrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic | 6-10% | 10-15% |
| Good | 11-14% | 16-19% |
| Acceptable | 15-18% | 20-25% |
| Too Fat | 19-24% | 26-29% |
| Obese | 25% + | 30% + |
Ideal Weight Calculator #4
Waist:Hip Ratio
Having too much body fat is a major health risk factor, but where the fat is carried on the body can also increase that risk.
The Waist:Hip Ratio is a method of determining where the fat is located.
The waist girth is measured by placing a tape at the narrowest section of the waist (as seen from the front). This value is divided by the hip girth as measured around the largest area (including the buttocks.)
A ratio greater than 0.90 in men and 0.80 in women is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.
If you’re interested in the ideal weight calculator, you might be interested in the following topics:
U.S. childhood obesity statistics
Child obesity statistics around the world
Fun cardiovascular activities to stay fit
A great way to maintain a desirable body weight is through regular physical activity. Check out some of our kids sports activities for some fun ideas!