Weight control is an important facet to maintaining your overall health. Excess weight is known to contribute to a number of serious health conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. For both women and men, ideal body weight is based on height as well as body-frame size. Body mass index and waist circumference may also be used to help make this determination.
Desirable Weight
The National Institutes of Health recommends that women should weigh roughly 100 lbs. at a height of 5 feet. Women taller than this height should add another 5 lbs. for each additional inch. If you're 5 feet 10 inches tall, a desirable body weight is approximately 150 lbs. However, women with a large body frame should add 10 percent to this amount, while women with smaller frames should subtract 10 percent.
Body Frame
If you're unsure of your body frame size, measure your wrist. Under 5 feet 2 inches tall, a wrist size of less than 5 ½ inches means you have a small frame; greater than 5 ¾ means you have a large frame. Between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 5 inches, you have a small frame with a wrist size less than 6 inches and a large frame with a wrist size of 6 ¼ inches. If you're over 5 feet 5 inches tall, a wrist size of less than 6 ¼ inches means small frame and greater than 6 ½ inches means large frame. A woman at 5 feet 10 inches tall with a small frame has an ideal weight of roughly 135 lbs., whereas a woman of the same height and a large frame has an ideal weight around 165 lbs.
Body Mass Index
Another good indicator of ideal weight is body mass index, or BMI, which is often used to establish weight status. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal or healthy. To determine your BMI, start off by dividing your weight in pounds by your height in inches. Divide this number by your height in inches again and then multiply by 703. A 5-foot 10-inch female weighing 150 lbs. has a BMI of 21.5, which is considered healthy for her height.
Waistline
Even if you're at an ideal body weight for your height, measure your waistline. Some women can carry an unhealthy amount of belly fat at their ideal weight, which can increase the risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer of the breast or colon. A measurement of less than 35 inches is best, according to MayoClinic.com. To get an accurate reading, take the measurement level with your navel.
Member Comments