Healthy Weight Chart


There is neither an official healthy weight chart nor an official ideal weight chart.  People have labeled various charts as such to serve their needs.  In fact the ideal and healthy weight charts are the same thing.

The two sources of information that come closest to official healthy weight charts are the BMI charts used by the cdc and doctors, and the Metropolitan Life Tables created by an insurance company.  So, I

guess if you are a democrat you will go to the BMI charts and if you are Republican you will use the Met Life Tables.  Just kidding, but you do have to take all these charts with a grain of salt. (not too much salt)

If you know you are overweight, I suggest you start with the healthy weight chart based on the BMI (body mass index).   As you lose weight and get healthier then go to the metlife tables where one takes into consideration their sex and frame size.  All of these charts can be seen below.


BMI Ideal Weight Chart

BMI

Height (in)

58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76

Wgt. (lbs)

 4'10" 4'11" 5'0" 5'1" 5'2" 5'3" 5'4" 5'5" 5'6" 5'7" 5'8" 5'9" 5'10" 5'11" 6'0" 6'1' 6'2" 6'3' 6'4'
100 21 20 20 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 14 14 14 13 13 13 12
105 22 21 21 20 19 19 18 18 17 16 16 16 15 15 14 14 14 13 13
110 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 15 14 14 13
115 24 23 23 22 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 14 14
120 25 24 23 23 22 21 21 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 15
125 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 18 18 17 17 17 16 16 15
130 27 26 25 25 24 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16 16
135 28 27 26 26 25 24 23 23 22 21 21 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16
140 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 23 23 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 17
145 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 23 23 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18
150 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 19 18
155 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 19
160 34 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 21 20 20
165 35 33 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 21 20
170 36 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 21
175 37 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 23 22 21
180 38 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 23 22
185 39 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 23
190 40 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23
195 41 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24
200 42 40 39 38 37 36 34 33 32 31 30 30 29 28 27 26 26 25 24
205 43 41 40 39 38 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 29 28 27 26 26 25
210 44 43 41 40 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 29 28 27 26 26
215 45 44 42 41 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26
220 46 45 43 42 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 28 27
225 47 46 44 43 41 40 39 38 36 35 34 33 32 31 31 30 29 28 27
230 48 47 45 44 42 41 40 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 30 29 28
235 49 48 46 44 43 42 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 29
240 50 49 47 45 44 43 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29
245 51 50 48 46 45 43 42 41 40 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 32 31 30
250 52 51 49 47 46 44 43 42 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30
255 53 52 50 48 47 45 44 43 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31
260 54 53 51 49 48 46 45 43 42 41 40 38 37 36 35 34 33 33 32
265 56 54 52 50 49 47 46 44 43 42 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32
270 57 55 53 51 49 48 46 45 44 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33
275 58 56 54 52 50 49  
 

BMI Classification
< 18.5 underweight
18.5¨C24.9 normal weight
25.0¨C29.9 overweight
30.0¨C34.9 class I obesity
35.0¨C39.9 class II obesity
¡Ý 40.0   class III obesity  

The most commonly used definitions, established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1997 and published in 2000, provide the values listed in the table at right.

Some modifications to the WHO definitions have been made by particular bodies. The surgical literature breaks down "class III" obesity into further categories whose exact values are still disputed

  • Any BMI greater than or equal to 35 or 40 is severe obesity
  • A BMI of  greater than or equal to 35 or 40 to 44.9 or 49.9 is morbid obesity
  • A BMI of greater than or equal to 45 or 50 is super obese



I have added calories to the chart above so that you can actually achieve a healthy weight for height

Using the healthy weight chart by mortality based on the relative risk of mortality for men as seen in this chart, and discussed by Paul Campos in his book


Healthy Weight Chart for Men by Mortality

BMI

Height (in)

58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76

Wgt. (lbs)

 4'10" 4'11" 5'0" 5'1" 5'2" 5'3" 5'4" 5'5" 5'6" 5'7" 5'8" 5'9" 5'10" 5'11" 6'0" 6'1' 6'2" 6'3' 6'4'
100 21 20 20 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 14 14 14 13 13 13 12
105 22 21 21 20 19 19 18 18 17 16 16 16 15 15 14 14 14 13 13
110 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 15 14 14 13
115 24 23 23 22 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 14 14
120 25 24 23 23 22 21 21 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 15
125 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 18 18 17 17 17 16 16 15
130 27 26 25 25 24 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16 16
135 28 27 26 26 25 24 23 23 22 21 21 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16
140 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 23 23 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 17
145 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 23 23 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18
150 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 19 18
155 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 19
160 34 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 21 20 20
165 35 33 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 21 20
170 36 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 21
175 37 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 23 22 21
180 38 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 23 22
185 39 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 23
190 40 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23
195 41 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24
200 42 40 39 38 37 36 34 33 32 31 30 30 29 28 27 26 26 25 24
205 43 41 40 39 38 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 29 28 27 26 26 25
210 44 43 41 40 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 29 28 27 26 26
215 45 44 42 41 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26
220 46 45 43 42 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 28 27
225 47 46 44 43 41 40 39 38 36 35 34 33 32 31 31 30 29 28 27
230 48 47 45 44 42 41 40 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 30 29 28
235 49 48 46 44 43 42 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 29
240 50 49 47 45 44 43 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29
245 51 50 48 46 45 43 42 41 40 38 37 3 35 34 33 32 32 31 30
250 52 51 49 47 46 44 43 42 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30
255 53 52 50 48 47 45 44 43 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31
260 54 53 51 49 48 46 45 43 42 41 40 38 37 36 35 34 33 33 32
265 56 54 52 50 49 47 46 44 43 42 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32
270 57 55 53 51 49 48 46 45 44 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33
275 58 56 54 52 50 49  


In a similar manner we get a chart for women that is based on the reading of The Obesity Myth by Paul Campos and the healthy weight chart by mortality


Healthy Weight Chart for Women by Mortality

BMI

Height (in)

58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76

Wgt. (lbs)

 4'10" 4'11" 5'0" 5'1" 5'2" 5'3" 5'4" 5'5" 5'6" 5'7" 5'8" 5'9" 5'10" 5'11" 6'0" 6'1' 6'2" 6'3' 6'4'
100 21 20 20 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 14 14 14 13 13 13 12
105 22 21 21 20 19 19 18 18 17 16 16 16 15 15 14 14 14 13 13
110 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 15 14 14 13
115 24 23 23 22 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 14 14
120 25 24 23 23 22 21 21 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 15
125 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 18 18 17 17 17 16 16 15
130 27 26 25 25 24 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16 16
135 28 27 26 26 25 24 23 23 22 21 21 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16
140 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 23 23 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 17
145 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 23 23 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18
150 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 19 18
155 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 20 20 19 19
160 34 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 21 20 20
165 35 33 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 21 20
170 36 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 21
175 37 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 23 22 21
180 38 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 23 22
185 39 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23 23
190 40 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 23
195 41 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 24 24
200 42 40 39 38 37 36 34 33 32 31 30 30 29 28 27 26 26 25 24
205 43 41 40 39 38 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 29 28 27 26 26 25
210 44 43 41 40 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 29 28 27 26 26
215 45 44 42 41 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26
220 46 45 43 42 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 28 27
225 47 46 44 43 41 40 39 38 36 35 34 33 32 31 31 30 29 28 27
230 48 47 45 44 42 41 40 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 30 29 28
235 49 48 46 44 43 42 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 29
240 50 49 47 45 44 43 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29
245 51 50 48 46 45 43 42 41 40 38 37 3 35 34 33 32 32 31 30
250 52 51 49 47 46 44 43 42 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30
255 53 52 50 48 47 45 44 43 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31
260 54 53 51 49 48 46 45 43 42 41 40 38 37 36 35 34 33 33 32
265 56 54 52 50 49 47 46 44 43 42 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32
270 57 55 53 51 49 48 46 45 44 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33
275 58 56 54 52 50 49  



MetLife Ideal Weight Chart

Here is another weight chart that shows what the insurance thinks is healthy. They are betting their money on it so it must have some validity.

Ideal Weight Chart for Women

Height in Shoes Small Frame Medium Frame Large Frame
6' 138 to 151 lb 148 to 162 lb 158 to 179 lb
5'11" 135 to 148 lb 145 to 159 lb 155 to 176 lb
5'10" 132 to 145 lb 142 to 156 lb 152 to 173 lb
5'9" 129 to 142 lb 139 to 153 lb 149 to 170 lb
5'8" 126 to 139 lb 136 to 150 lb 146 to 167 lb
5'7" 123 to 136 lb 133 to 147 lb 143 to 163 lb
5'6" 120 to 133 lb 130 to 144 lb 140 to 159 lb
5'5" 117 to 130 lb 127 to 141 lb 137 to 155 lb
5'4" 114 to 127 lb 124 to 138 lb 134 to 151 lb
5'3" 111 to 124 lb 121 to 135 lb 131 to 147 lb
5'2" 108 to 121 lb 118 to 132 lb 128 to 143 lb
5'1" 106 to 118 lb 115 to 129 lb 125 to 140 lb
5' 104 to 115 lb 113 to 126 lb 122 to 137 lb
4'11" 103 to 113 lb 111 to 123 lb 120 to 134 lb
4'10" 102 to 111 lb 109 to 121 lb 118 to 131 lb

Data from height and weight tables of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 1983. The ideal weight given in these tables are for ages 25 to 59. The ideal weight assumes you are wearing shoes with 1-inch heels and indoor clothing weighing 3 pounds.

Ideal Weight Chart for Men

Height in Shoes Small Frame Medium Frame Large Frame
6'4" 162 to 176 lb 171 to 187 lb 181 to 207 lb
6'3" 158 to 172 lb 167 to 182 lb 176 to 202 lb
6'2" 155 to 168 lb 164 to 178 lb 172 to 197 lb
6'1" 152 to 164 lb 160 to 174 lb 168 to 192 lb
6' 149 to 160 lb 157 to 170 lb 164 to 188 lb
5'11" 146 to 157 lb 154 to 166 lb 161 to 184 lb
5'10" 144 to 154 lb 151 to 163 lb 158 to 180 lb
5'9" 142 to 151 lb 148 to 160 lb 155 to 176 lb
5'8" 140 to 148 lb 145 to 157 lb 152 to 172 lb
5'7" 138 to 145 lb 142 to 154 lb 149 to 168 lb
5'6" 136 to 142 lb 139 to 151 lb 146 to 164 lb
5'5" 134 to 140 lb 137 to 148 lb 144 to 160 lb
5'4" 132 to 138 lb 135 to 145 lb 142 to 156 lb
5'3" 130 to 136 lb 133 to 143 lb 140 to 153 lb
5'2" 128 to 134 lb 131 to 141 lb 138 to 150 lb

From height and weight tables of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 1983. The ideal weight given in these tables are for ages 25 to 59. The ideal weight assumes you are wearing shoes with 1-inch heels and indoor clothing weighing 5 pounds.

Frame size or body build is determined by the thickness of the bones in your elbows, knees, ankles, and wrists. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company offers this method of determining your body frame size:

  1. Extend your arm and bend your forearm upward at a 90 degree angle. With your fingers straight, turn the inside of your wrist toward your body.
  2. Place your thumb and index finger of the other hand on the two prominent bones of the elbow.
  3. Measure the space between the fingers against a ruler or a tape measure. Compare your measurement with the figures in the table below.
  4. Elbow measurements less than those given indicate a small frame; greater measurements indicate a large frame.

Elbow Size for Women

Height in 1" Heels Elbow Breadth for Medium Frame
4'10" to 5'3" 2 1/4" to 2 1/2"
5'4" to 6'0" 2 3/8" to 2 5/8"

Elbow Size for Men

Height in 1" Heels Elbow Breadth for Medium Frame
5'2" to 5'7" 2 1/2" to 2 7/8"
5'8" to 6'3" 2 3/4" to 3 1/8"
6'4" 2 7/8" to 3 1/4"

Consider body composition. If you are muscular and athletic, you may weigh more than a more sedentary person of the same height and frame size, yet you may be trim, while your sedentary counterpart may be overweight. If your weight comes from muscle, you may fall technically into the overweight category yet not be fat. Just because you are more muscular does not necessarily mean that you are healthier. More weight in the form of muscle can also put more stress on the internal organs of the body.   In fact pictures of some unhealthy hearts can look like a heart on steroids. It looks big and strong because it is doing so much work, and too much work is not always a good thing.  All things in moderation. 


The chart below is the original Metlife Healthy Weight Chart. People were thinner in 1942. In fact at that time the insurance company was probably just as worried about people being too thin. Tired of math and charts? Old movies are the healthy weight formula.

This ideal weight chart shows that people were lighter in 1942.



Is an Average Weight a Healthy Weight?

Many people assume that an average weight is a healthy weight. This is not a bad assumption except that the average weight has gone way up in the last few years. The BMI was first based on average weight of non starving people over a century ago. Back then being too thin was a bigger problem. I chose 1970 as the most recent year when people were not to heavy to give you the average or the ideal height for weight.


Record Your Health and Weight Here:

Here is a chart to track your weight and other health factors:

healthy weight chart pdf

and

yearly healthy weight chart pdf