The Ideal Weight Scale For Women

As of 2007, 60 percent of women in the U.S. are overweight or obese, according to the Office on Women's Health. Eating healthily and exercising regularly are important to maintaining health. Healthy weight for women falls within a range. Once a healthy weight is achieved, women should not strive to lose more. Different body types may fall on either end of the scale.

Body Mass Index

The Body Mass Index or BMI is the index used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to measure weight ranges. The BMI scale applies to both adult men and women and does not account for differences in body types. BMI is measured by calculating weight in relation to height. The BMI includes four weight classes: underweight, normal, overweight and obese. The CDC indicates that a healthy weight scale is wide. BMI relies on your weight in relation to your height. For example, a 5-foot-tall adult may weigh between 97 and 128 lbs., a 5.5-foot-tall adult may weigh between 118 and 161 lbs, and a 6-foot-tall adult may weigh between 140 and 190 lbs.

Criticisms of BMI

A study published by Dr. Mahbubur Rahman and Dr. Abby B Berenson, in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, in May 2010, found that the BMI scale consistently underestimated obesity in women. The study found that 205 of the women measured by the BMI scale were found to be obese. However, when the same group of 555 women were tested using body scans to determine body fat, 350 women were found to be obese. Conversely, the BMI scale does not distinguish between weight gained in muscle and weight gained in fat, so athletic women may have a high BMI.

Pregnant Women

If you are pregnant, healthy weight scale will be higher. The American Pregnancy Association recommends that if you were measured as underweight before pregnancy, you may gain 28 to 40 lbs. during pregnancy. If you were classified as healthy, you may gain 25 to 37 lbs. If you were overweight before pregnancy, you may only gain between 15 and 25 lbs. to remain in a healthy weight range.

Risks of High Weight

Being consistently overweight or obese may lead to a number of health complications. The Harvard School of Public Health advises that obesity may lead to heart problems, diabetes, infertility, arthritis, gallstones or an early death. Women should be careful to watch their waist size, as this can have just has much impact on health as being overweight or obese. Even a woman with a healthy BMI may experience health problems if her waist is above 28 inches.

Risks of Low Weight

Excessive dieting and maintaining an underweight BMI may cause health problems. Some body fat is needed for healthy function. Iowa State University advises that 22 percent of a woman's body weight should be body fat to ensure healthy menstruation. A consistently underweight BMI may cause fertility problems, osteoporosis, depression or heart problems.