It's important to know your ideal body weight for many reasons. Your body weight plays a major role in your overall risk of developing any number of obesity-related diseases at some point in life, if you fall within the overweight category. Obesity-related diseases include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke.
The Facts
The ideal maximum body weight of one person may vary greatly from another based on age, height and muscle mass. For instance, a bodybuilder may weigh far more than the average person of the same age and height, but has much more muscle. Although the bodybuilder will weigh more because of increased muscle mass, he may still fall within a healthy category. An easy way to determine whether or not you have the ideal body weight for your age and height is by finding out your body mass index.
Body Mass Index
Your body mass index, or BMI, is an estimated measure of the amount of fat on your body, according to the definition given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your BMI score is closely related to whether or not you fall within a healthy body weight range. BMI is calculated by first dividing your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared. Next, multiply that number by 703 to get your BMI score.
BMI for Adults
The BMI scale for adults uses four categories to determine whether you're within your ideal weight range: underweight, normal, overweight and obese. A score below 18.5 signifies that you are underweight. If you have a BMI score of 18.5 to 24.9, you are considered within the normal range. The overweight category is 25 to 29.9, while 30 or above is considered obese. For example, an adult who is 5 ft. 9 in. tall would want to weigh a maximum of 168 lb. to be within the normal range.
BMI for Kids and Teens
The BMI measurement for kids and teens is calculated a bit differently than it is for adults. First, the BMI score is calculated using a BMI calculator, such as the one at CDC.gov. Next, that figure is plotted on a graph to compare it with other children of the same age and sex; this is important because children are in a state of constant growth. The final BMI score for kids is given as a percentile of how one child compares to other children in the same age/gender group. Underweight children fall within the fifth percentile. Healthy BMI is between the fifth and the 85th percentiles. The 85th to 95th percentile is labeled as overweight, while obese children are at the 95th percentile.
Considerations
It's impossible to determine the ideal body weight of a person based exclusively on her age or height. This result varies, especially in children and teenagers, depending on various factors described above. You can determine your BMI score to get a rough estimate of how your body weight compares to the CDC's standards, but the only true way to find out your personal ideal maximum body weight is to consult your doctor on the matter.
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