Your ideal body weight is roughly estimated based on your height, body frame and gender, according to Medline Plus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health. It has nothing to do with body mass or body fat, which are often used to determine obesity. Ideal body weight is only a rough estimate, because it doesn't account for increased muscle mass, which is seen in more athletic individuals.
Ideal Body Weight for Women
To determine ideal body weight for women, Medline Plus notes that the first 5 feet is equivalent to 100 lbs. Each inch beyond this height is given an additional 5 lbs. This means that a woman of 5 feet 3 inches tall has an ideal weight of 115 lbs., unless her body frame is consider small or large.
Body Frame for Women
Women under 5 feet 2 inches tall have a small body frame if their wrists measure less than 5 1/2 inches in circumference, while circumferences over 5 3/4 inches denote a large body frame. For women between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 5 inches, wrists measuring less than 6 inches are deemed to have a small frame and those with wrists over 6 1/4 inches are designated as having a large frame. Women taller than 5 feet 5 inches have small frames when their wrists measure less than 6 1/4 inches and large frames if their wrists are greater than 6 1/2 inches.
Women with small frames subtract 10 percent of the ideal body weight and those with large frames add an additional 10 percent of the ideal body weight. Rush University Medical Center indicates that a small-framed woman who is 5 feet 3 inches tall has an ideal weight of roughly 104 lbs. If she was large-framed, her ideal body weight is around 127 lbs.
Ideal Body Weight for Men
To determine the ideal body weight for men, a slightly different calculation is used. The first 5 feet is equal to 106 lbs., and each inch beyond this height is given an extra 6 lbs., according to Medline Plus. This means a man who is 5 feet 9 inches tall has an ideal body weight of 160 lbs. And much like women, a small or large body frame requires additional calculation.
Body Frame for Men
Men over 5 feet 5 inches tall are typically considered small-framed if their wrist circumferences are less than 6 1/2 inches, while any man with a wrist measurement over 7 1/2 inches is considered large-framed.
Subtract 10 percent of the ideal body weight in small frames and add an additional 10 percent of the ideal body weight in large frames. This means that a small-framed man who is 5 feet 9 inches tall has an ideal weight of 144 lbs. If he is large-framed, his ideal body weight is about 176 lbs.
Maintenance
To maintain your ideal body weight, it's important to watch what you eat as well as your level of activity. Keeping a well-balanced diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and other lean sources of protein can help manage your weight. Daily exercise, such as walking, biking or swimming, is another crucial component in weight maintenance.
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