Is there a perfect body weight? It is easy to become confused with the massive amount of information available that touches on topics such as weight, body fat, body mass index and the good old fashioned height and weight charts. With all of those ways to rank body weight, how is one to know which is the right one? The answer lies in being realistic and knowing how to interpret the data.
The scale
The number one tool people use to judge weight is the scale. Unfortunately, it doesn't tell us a lot. All the scale reveals is total weight; not the breakdown between body fat and lean muscle. The difference between the two is important. For example, if one were to place five pounds of steel next to five pounds of cotton, the cotton would take up more space. The same comparison can be made between lean muscle mass and body fat. Two people can weigh 150 pounds but the one with higher levels of body fat will appear larger every time.
Body fat percentage
What is the appropriate range for body fat? Dr. Len Kravitz and Dr. Vivian Heyward in the article "Getting a Grip on Body Composition" state that body fat percentages to promote optimal health are between 10 percent to 25 percent for men and 18 percent to 30 percent for women. To determine your level of body fat, look for an experienced fitness professional who is trained in body composition testing.
BMI
Body Mass Index, or BMI, is another way to determine if one is at a healthy weight. The formula looks at relative weight for height and based upon that equation, will show where you rank in terms of normal, overweight or obese. For the average individual, BMI is a useful tool, but it becomes less accurate the more muscluar one becomes. For example, a football player who is six feet tall and 215 pounds would be considered overweight even though he has a low level of body fat.
Charts
Height and weight charts are still used by insurance companies and doctors' offices even though they are antiquated by today's technology. Many height and weight charts such as the Metropolitan Life Height and Weight Standards where developed many years ago, and while the Metropolitan Life tables were revised in 1983, they do not take into consideration that it is virtually impossible to place an individual perfectly into a chart. No consideration to body composition is given and thus one should avoid using these types of tables to gauge the perfect body weight.
A mirror
Perhaps in all of the tests, calculators and technology, the best way to gauge if you are the perfect weight may already be in your bedroom. Regardless of what your fitness professional or doctor says, a mirror can tell you everything you need to know about being the perfect body weight. It is important to note that perfection is unattainable and happiness is not found in a number or percentage, but if you like what you see being reflected back, you need not search any longer for the answer. You have found the perfect body weight.
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