Due to the health risks related to obesity, women over 60 must be especially careful to keep their weight at a healthy range. Weight and height charts for adults are usually inaccurate for the elderly: According to a study published in the January 2010 issue of the "Journal of the American Geriatrics Society," elderly women who are slightly overweight are at a no greater risk for mortality than women at an ideal weight.
Basics
Body mass index compares a woman's weight to her height to determine whether she is in a healthy weight range. BMI is separated into four categories: underweight, normal, overweight and obese. A BMI of 18.5 is labeled underweight, a BMI between 18.5 to 24.9 is labeled normal, a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is labeled overweight and a BMI of 30 and above is labeled obese.
Warning
The average adult height and weight chart can be unreliable for women over 60. The National Institutes of Health recommends older women maintain a BMI between 25 to 27, as it protects against certain health conditions like osteoporosis. For example, according to BMI charts, a woman standing 5 feet 4 inches should weigh 108 to 145 lbs. However, a woman over 60 at this height who weighs 158 lbs., despite having a BMI of 27.1, would still be in a healthy weight range.
Alternatives
Based on a study published in the August 2006 edition of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," a high waist-to-hip ratio is a better indicator of potential health risk than BMI, in people 75 years old and above. BMI's weight and height chart overestimates obesity-related illness in the elderly. Women 75 years of age or older with a waist-hip measurement greater than .8 are at increased risk for cardiovascular-related mortality.
Suggestions
Talk to your doctor to determine what weight range is best for your age and height. The BMI height and weight chart can be unreliable at helping you determine your ideal weight, as it does not distinguish between muscle and fat, and does not take age into account. Based on the findings of a research project published in the January 2010 issue of "The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society," Leon Flicker -- the researcher who led the study -- reasoned that the BMI guidelines are too inflexible when it comes to the elderly.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About BMI for Adults
- MedLinePlus: Body Mass Index
- HealthandAge.com; Waist-Hip Ratio Trumps BMI in Seniors; Robert W. Griffith; Nov. 2006
- "Journal of the American Geriatrics Society"; Body Mass Index and Survival in Men and Women Aged 70 to 75; Leon Flicker et al.; Jan. 2010
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