- Height/Weight table
- Out of shape?
- The Food Pyramid
- Standard Weight Charts
- BMI - Body Mass Index
- Articles
Height/Weight Table
This height / weight table was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services. It offers a range of suggested weights for adults based on their height.
Height/weight tables may indicate that a lean, muscular person is "overweight", while a person whose weight is within the "normal" range might actually be carrying around more fatty tissue than is healthy.
Body Mass Index and Waist to Hip Ratios are also reasonable measurements of weight.
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How can I tell if I am overweight or out of shape?
- How well do your clothes fit? Are they tight or loose through the chest, thighs, or waist?
- The "pinch test": Can you "pinch an inch" of fat at your waistline or at the back of your arm?
- The "jiggle test": Jump up and down in front of a full-length mirror, nude. Does anything jiggle that shouldn't?
- How do you feel--energetic or wiped out?
- Do you have good muscle tone, or are you flabby?
- Are you able to walk up a few flights of stairs without panting?
- Are you able to accomplish the daily tasks that you want/need to do?
The Food Pyramid
The new "Food Pyramid" replaces the old "Four Basic Food Groups" as recommended food to eat by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The new "Food Pyramid" emphasizes fruits, vegetable, and grains, and suggests smaller amounts of protein sources (meats, legumes, dairy products, etc.) than the old Four Basic Food Groups did.
What Size Serving is the "Food Pyramid" refering too?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines:
- A serving of vegetables is 1/2 cup of cooked or raw, chopped vegetables, or 3/4 cup vegetable juice, or one cup of raw, leafy vegetables like spinach or lettuce.
- A serving of fruit is 1/2 cup of bite-sized fruit pieces, 1/4 cup dried fruit (e.g. raisins), 3/4 cup of fruit juice, or one medium piece of fruit (e.g., a medium orange, apple, or banana, or one half of a grapefruit).
- A serving of dairy products such as milk or yogurt (look for skim or low-fat varieties) is one cup;
- A serving of cheese (which should be used in moderation or replaced with low-fat varieties) is 1-1/2 ounces of natural cheese or 2 ounces of processed cheese.
- A serving of meat is only 2 to 3 ounces of cooked meat.
- One ounce of meat can be replaced by 1/2 cup of cooked beans, 1 egg, or 2 tablespoons of peanut butter (remember that whole eggs and peanut butter are high in fat and should be used sparingly).
- A serving of grains is considered to be one ounce of bread (about one slice) or dry cereal (most of us consume at least 1-1/2 to 2 ounces of breakfast cereal at a time), or 1/2 cup of cooked grains or pasta.
STANDARD WEIGHT CHARTS
The weight charts for men and women illustrated below are for reference use only and should not be used as a medical guide. It might be interesting to see where you are in these tables.
Your frame size should be a factor into the number on your scale. Are you small, medium, large, or extra large? This usually refers to the bone size of an individual (your frame). You may even be a mixture of these set categories.
Our Standard Weight Charts for men and women are based on the individual being dressed in light clothing (3-5 pounds) without shoes.
Charts are based on individuals 21 years and older. Remember that age plays a huge role in our weight.
Muscle weighs more than fat. This is one of the major reasons, as well as bone mass, that there is a chart for men, and a separate one for women. Men are equipped with more muscle than women, so naturally their weight will be higher.
STANDARD WEIGHT CHART FOR MEN
| Height In Feet & Inches |
Small Frame | Medium Frame | Large Frame |
| 5'2" | 128-134 | 131-141 | 138-150 |
| 5'3" | 130-136 | 133-143 | 140-153 |
| 5'4" | 132-138 | 135-145 | 142-156 |
| 5'5" | 134-140 | 137-148 | 144-160 |
| 5'6" | 136-142 | 139-151 | 146-164 |
| 5'7" | 138-145 | 142-154 | 149-168 |
| 5'8" | 140-148 | 145-157 | 152-172 |
| 5'9" | 142-151 | 148-160 | 155-176 |
| 5'10" | 144-154 | 151-163 | 158-180 |
| 5'11" | 146-157 | 154-166 | 161-184 |
| 6'0" | 149-160 | 157-170 | 164-188 |
| 6'1" | 152-164 | 160-174 | 168-192 |
| 6'2" | 155-168 | 164-178 | 172-197 |
| 6'3" | 158-172 | 167-182 | 176-202 |
| 6'4" | 162-176 | 171-187 | 181-207 |
STANDARD WEIGHT CHART FOR WOMEN
| Height In Feet & Inches |
Small Frame | Medium Frame | Large Frame |
| 4'10" | 102-111 | 109-121 | 118-131 |
| 4'11" | 103-113 | 111-123 | 120-134 |
| 5'0" | 104-115 | 113-126 | 122-137 |
| 5'1" | 106-118 | 115-129 | 125-140 |
| 5'2" | 108-121 | 118-132 | 128-143 |
| 5'3" | 111-124 | 121-135 | 131-147 |
| 5'4" | 114-127 | 124-138 | 134-151 |
| 5'5" | 117-130 | 127-141 | 137-155 |
| 5'6" | 120-133 | 130-144 | 140-159 |
| 5'7" | 123-136 | 133-147 | 143-163 |
| 5'8" | 126-139 | 136-150 | 146-167 |
| 5'9" | 129-142 | 139-153 | 149-170 |
| 5'10" | 132-145 | 142-156 | 152-173 |
| 5'11" | 135-148 | 145-159 | 155-176 |
| 6'0" | 138-151 | 148-162 | 158-179 |
BMI - Body Mass Index
Body Mass Index or BMI is a tool for indicating weight status in adults. It is a measure of weight for height. For adults over 20 years old, BMI falls into one of these categories:
| BMI | Weight Status |
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 – 24.9 | Normal |
| 25.0 – 29.9 | Overweight |
| 30.0 and Above | Obese |
BMI correlates with body fat. The relation between fatness and BMI differs with age and gender. For example, women are more likely to have a higher percent of body fat than men for the same BMI. On average, older people may have more body fat than younger adults with the same BMI.
Now fill in the form below and calculate Your BMI.
How does BMI relate to health?
The BMI ranges are based on the effect body weight has on disease and death. As BMI increases, the risk for some disease increases. Some common conditions related to overweight and obesity include
- Premature death
- Cardiovascular disease
- High blood pressure
- Osteoarthritis
- Some cancers
- Diabetes
BMI is only one of many factors used to predict risk for disease. BMI cannot be used to tell a person if he/she has a disease such as diabetes or cancer. It is important to remember that weight is only one factor that is related to disease.
Misconception: BMI Measures Body Fat
Two people can have the same BMI, but a different percent body fat. A bodybuilder with a large muscle mass and a low percent body fat may have the same BMI as a person who has more body fat because BMI is calculated using weight and height only.
Misconception: BMI is a diagnostic tool
BMI alone is not diagnostic. It is one of many risk factors for disease and death. As a person's BMI increases the risk for many diseases increases as well.
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