If you are trying to determine a healthy weight for yourself, it is important to factor in your height. A person who is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 130 lbs. is healthy, but a person who is 5 feet and weighs 130 lbs. is overweight. There are several ways to estimate your ideal weight based on your height.
BMI
One way to determine the ideal weight range for your height is based on your ideal body mass index, or BMI, a figure that estimates body fatness based on weight and height. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people use BMI to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. You can work backward from a healthy BMI to determine your ideal weight for your height.
A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. To determine the weight you need to be to have a BMI of 21.7--the middle of the healthy range--perform the following calculations using a calculator:
Multiply 21.7 by your height in inches by your height in inches. Then divide this multiplication product by 703, and the resulting number is your ideal weight.
Hamwi Formula
According to an article published in 2006 in the "Journal of Renal Nutrition" by Kathy Schiro Harvey, the Hamwi formula was developed in the 1960s as an easy way for people to determine their ideal weight based on their height. To use it, perform the following calculations.
For a medium-framed man, calculate how many inches tall you are over 5 feet. Multiply this number by 6, and add 106. For a small-framed man, multiply this figure by 0.9. For a large-framed man, multiply this figure by 1.1.
For a medium-framed woman, calculate how many inches tall you are over 5 feet. Multiply this number by 5, and add 100. For a small-framed woman, multiply this figure by 0.9. For a large-framed woman, multiply this figure by 1.1.
Losing Weight
If your current weight is considerably over your estimated healthy weight, see your doctor, who can help you identify ways to change your lifestyle and shed the extra pounds. Ways to lose weight include regular exercise and eating foods low in trans and saturated fats, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Considerations
BMI and the Hamwi formula do not take into consideration how much lean muscle mass a person has. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, these formulas may overestimate body fat in athletes and people who have a muscular build and may underestimate body fat in older people who have low muscle mass. To get a more accurate assessment of how healthy your weight is, see your doctor.
Children and Teens
The Hamwi formula, as well as BMI, are used to monitor overall fat in adults, not children. Therefore, children should not use these methods to determine their healthy weight. However, it is possible to calculate whether a child or teen has a healthy BMI by using online child and teen BMI calculators, such as the one provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (see Resources).
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