What Is the Ideal Average Weight for Women? Healthy weight range

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The ideal average weight for women is the one that is healthy for them.

The ideal average weight for women is the one that is healthy for them. It varies amongst women as per their height.  As per the CDC report, the average weight of American women in 2015-2016 was 77.4 kg (170.6 lb) in 2015–2016, up from 74.3 kg (163.8 lb) in 1999–2000. 

To find out if any person is underweight, normal-weight, overweight, or obese, their Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated from weight and height. The BMI lets you know if your weight is normal for your height. Here is how  you can find out your BMI:

BMI = weight in kg divided by height in meter, then again divide the result by height in meter.

For example, if your height is 166 cm (1.6 m) and weight is 67 kg, your BMI is calculated as:

•  67 ÷ 1.66 = 40.36 and then, 40.36 ÷ 1.66 = 24.31. This 24.31 is your BMI. 

Alternatively, you can multiply your weight in pounds by 703, divide by your height in inches, then divide again by your height in inches.

The normal BMI range is 18.5 – 24.9. 

Given below is the chart showing ideal (healthy) weight by age for a given height.

BMI
(kg/m²) 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 35 40 Height
(foot)

Weight (lb.)

4.8

91
96
100
105
110
115
119
124
129
134
138
143
167
191

4.9

94
99
104
109
114
119
124
128
133
138
143
148
173
198

5.0

97
102
107
112
118
123
128
133
138
143
148
153
179
204

5.1

100
106
111
116
122
127
132
137
143
148
153
158
185
211

5.2

104
109
115
120
126
131
136
142
147
153
158
164
191
218

5.3

107
113
118
124
130
135
141
146
152
158
163
169
197
225

5.33

110
116
122
128
134
140
145
151
157
163
169
174
204
232

5.42

114
120
126
132
138
144
150
156
162
168
174
180
210
240

5.5

118
124
130
136
142
148
155
161
167
173
179
186
216
247

5.58

121
127
134
140
146
153
159
166
172
178
185
191
223
255

5.67

125
131
138
144
151
158
164
171
177
184
190
197
230
262

5.75

128
135
142
149
155
162
169
176
182
189
196
203
236
270

5.83

132
139
146
153
160
167
174
181
188
195
202
207
243
278

5.91

136
143
150
157
165
172
179
186
193
200
208
215
250
286

6.0

140
147
154
162
169
177
184
191
199
206
213
221
258
294

6.08

144
151
159
166
174
182
189
197
204
212
219
227
265
302

6.17

148
155
163
171
179
186
194
202
210
218
225
233
272
311

6.25

152
160
168
176
184
192
200
208
216
224
232
240
279
319

6.33

156
164
172
180
189
197
205
213
221
230
238
246
287
328

BMI to Appropriate Weight and Height Chart Courtesy of the National Institutes of Health
 

How is BMI interpreted for adults?

BMI can be a screening tool for deciding the ideal weight for you and letting you know if your weight is on the higher side. But it does not tell us about your total body fat content or health status. This is because weight is a measure of water content + fat content + bone + muscle mass. Out of these things, the muscle mass varies the most amongst individuals. If you are someone who does muscle-strengthening exercises daily, you will have more muscle weight than others. 

Being overweight and obese puts you at risk for many health disorders such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), heart diseases, stroke, and cancer amongst many others. To determine if a particular BMI exposes you to health risks, the healthcare provider will assess other factors such as

• your waist-circumference,
• waist-hip ratio,
• skinfold thickness,
• diet,
• physical activity, and
• family history.

Other methods to measure body fatness include

• skinfold thickness measurements,
• bioelectrical impedance, and
• dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

However, these methods are not always easily available, and they are either costly or need expertise to conduct them.

What is the importance of the waist-hip ratio?

Your waist-to-hip ratio is another good parameter to check if you have a healthy weight or not. To calculate this ratio, you should first measure your waist circumference at its smallest part and your hip circumference at its widest part.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a waist-to-hip ratio in women should be:

• women should not have a waist-to-hip ratio greater than 0.85.
• A waist-to-hip ratio over 1.0 puts women more likely to get diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and breast cancer. 

To achieve a healthy weight or a healthy BMI and normal waist-hip ratio, it is vital to adopt healthy lifestyle choices such as a healthy dietary pattern and regular moderate- or high-intensity exercises (at least 30 minutes/day for most days of the week). A visit to a doctor or dietician will help you decide the best, feasible options for you.