When you join a diet program such as Weight Watchers, you may be asked to determine a target weight or goal weight. Aim for a realistic number that will put you at a healthy weight for your height. Doctors use a number of factors for determining a person's target weight, but one method is Body Mass Index, or BMI. The BMI for a healthy adult should fall between 18.5 and 25.
Step 1
Weigh yourself. Write down your weight.
Step 2
Stand in a doorway with your back to the doorframe. Have a friend or family member make a pencil mark where the top of your head meets the doorframe. Step away from the door and measure from the floor to the mark with a tape measure. This is your height in inches.
Step 3
Multiply your weight in pounds by 705. Divide the resulting number by your height in inches. Divide by your height in inches again. This number is your BMI and will tell you if you are in a healthy weight range. If your BMI falls between 25 and 29.9, you are considered overweight. If your BMI is over 29.9, you are obese, according to the BMI charts.
Step 4
Consult a BMI table, such as the one provided by the University of Maryland Medical Center, to determine an appropriate weight range for your height. Find your height in inches at the top of the chart and run your finger down to the weights within the orange section of the chart, or the section with BMI between 18.5 and 25. These are healthy weights for your height.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are an athlete or a body builder with a high proportion of muscle, BMI may show you as overweight even if you are fit. Consult your doctor if you have questions about BMI.
- BMI tables for adults are not accurate for children.
Things You'll Need
- Scale
- Tape measure
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