Calculating ideal weight for height considers frame size. A midframe measurement can be taken by measuring the distance between the sides of the right elbow when the arm is extended in front of the chest. Ideal weight varies, but for women, 5 pounds should be allotted over 100 pounds for every inch over 5 feet. People who exercise and are physically fit tend to have more lean muscle mass, which weighs more than fat tissue. A body fat composition test may be necessary to more accurately measure muscle versus fat tissue.
Calculating your ideal weight for height is one way to determine if you are overweight or underweight. This method also takes into account the size of a person’s frame. So, for example, the frame can be calculated by measuring the distance between the sides of the right elbow when the arm is extended in front of the chest, and the elbow is bent so that the forearm is parallel to the body.
Such a midframe measurement would be 2.75 to 3 inches (6.98-7.62 cm) on a man who is 68 to 71 inches (1.72 -1.8 m) tall. On a woman who is 64-67 inches (1.62-1.7m) tall, the midframe elbow measurement would be between 2.25-2.5 inches (5.71-6.35cm).
The ideal weight for a woman of medium height who is 64-67 inches is between 124-147 pounds. This leads to a large variance in what would be considered an ideal weight. Some people simply state that for women, 5 pounds (2.26 kg) should be allotted over 100 pounds (45.39 kg) for every inch over 5 feet (1.52 m). So a woman who is 5’2” (1.57m) has an ideal weight of 110lbs (49.89kg).
In this model, men are allowed one to two more pounds (.45-.90 kg) per inch than women, since their frames are generally larger. This is a pretty good way to get a quick estimate of your ideal weight for height.
People who exercise and are physically fit tend to have more lean muscle mass and lower levels of fat tissue than people who are not physically fit. Muscle tissue weighs more, and this does not necessarily affect the actual frame of the person. In order to obtain an ideal weight for height, a body fat composition test may be necessary to more accurately measure “good” muscle tissue versus “bad” fat tissue.
Fit people tend to weigh more than a simple height/weight comparison allows, especially if they are attached to muscle. So it wouldn’t be unusual for our 5’2+ woman to weigh over 110 pounds and still be an ideal weight. Individual variations will affect the ideal weight figures for each person.
A good personal trainer, nutritionist, or doctor can help you analyze your ideal weight from several complex tables, rather than a simple weight/height ratio. The results may suggest that weight loss is in order, or provide the person wanting to lose weight with a pleasant surprise about their current weight.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
