Sixty-six percent of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese, according to Medline Plus, an information service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Maintaining a healthy weight helps keep your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar in check. Being overweight increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and certain types of cancer. Determining your ideal weight--and attaining it--can help keep these risks at bay.
Women
Step 1
Determine the ideal weight for your height. A woman who has is 5 feet tall has an ideal body weight of 100 pounds. Every additional inch you are, your ideal weight increases by 5 lbs. Every inch less than five feet a woman is, her ideal weight decreases by 5 lbs. So, a woman who is 5 feet 5 inches tall has an ideal weight of 125 lbs. A woman who is 4 feet 11 inches has an ideal body weight of 95 lbs.
Step 2
Determine if the size of your frame is small, medium or large. Measure the circumference of your writs with a measuring tape. You have a medium body frame if your wrist is 6 inches and your ideal weight does not need to be adjusted. A wrist measurement less than 6 inches indicates you have a small body frame and you need to subtract 10 percent from your ideal weight. A wrist measurement of more than 6 inches indicates you have a large frame and you need to add 10 percent to your ideal weight.
Step 3
Calculate your ideal weight. Make adjustments depending on the results of your body frame measurement. For example, a woman that is 5 feet 1 inch (ideal weight of 105 lbs.) with a small frame (minus 10 percent) has an ideal weight of 94.5 lbs.
Men
Step 1
Determine the ideal weight for your height. A man who is 5 feet tall has an ideal body weight of 106 lbs. For every additional inch in height, your ideal weight increases by 6 lbs. So a man who is 5 feet 11 inches tall has an ideal body weight of 172 lbs.
Step 2
Determine if the size of your frame is small, medium or large. Measure the circumference of your wrist with a measuring tape. You have a medium body frame if your wrist measures 7 inches exactly and ideal your body weight does not need to be adjusted. A wrist measurement less than 7 inches indicates you have a small body frame and you need to subtract 10 percent from your ideal weight. A wrist measurement more than 7 inches indicates a large body frame and you need to add 10 percent to your ideal body weight.
Step 3
Calculate your ideal weight. Make adjustments depending on the results of your body frame measurement. For example, a man who is 5 feet 11 inches (ideal weight of 172 lbs.) with a large body frame (add 10 percent) has an ideal body weight of 189.2 lbs.
Tips and Warnings
- Visit your doctor for the most accurate assessment. Your doctor will take proper measurements and factor in other health issues to determine what your ideal weight should be. Your doctor can also help you come up with a diet and exercise plan, if needed.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Calculator
Member Comments