Ideal weight, as recorded on the body-mass-index (BMI) chart, is a weight range correlated to one's height. Body fat percentage is more nuanced because recommendations take into account one's age, sex and activity level. Both ideal weight and body fat percentage levels can be used as diagnostic tools for obesity and malnutrition.
Weight
BMI, or healthy height-to-weight ranges, are used as one tool to assess long-term health risks. According to the BMI chart, a person who is 5 feet 6 inches tall should fall in the weight range of 118 to 155 lbs, while someone who is 6 feet tall should fall in the range of 132 to 175 lbs. Weight ranges for adults do not take into account age, sex and height, but healthy weight ranges for children do.
Body Fat
According to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, the body fat range for males from a representative sample between the ages of eight and 80, was between 20 to 30 percent. For women, the recommended body fat level is between 18 to 25 percent. Carrying excess body fat puts people at risks for Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association.
Calculations
Find your ideal weight using BMI tables or a calculator from the National Heart Blood and Lung Institute. To find the ideal weight for children and adolescents, use the CDC's calculator, which requires specific criteria for a child's birth month and year, sex and height. There are several methods, from calipers to body fat scales and hydrostatic underwater weighing, to determine body fat percentage.
Significance
Weight and body composition are two diagnostic tools that contribute to an overall health profile. Both variables affect long-term health issues such as cholesterol levels, risks for Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and certain types of cancer.
Considerations
While it is important to monitor weight and body composition, other variables can affect health. Where you carry excess fat matters. It has long been established that those who carry excess weight in the abdominal region are at higher risks for cardiovascular disease, and a new study from the American Cancer Society confirms that a large waist circumference puts people of normal weight at higher health risks.
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