What's the deal with the "ideal weight" charts?
TashaFat2Fit
Posts: 11 Member
Read that in your best Seinfeld voice..
Here's my question, I'm 5' 4" currently weigh 183 pounds and the ideal weight charts online say I should weigh 112!!! Wha?? That's a 70 pound weight loss! How much stock have you put into those charts, and for those 5'4" ladies - What's a realistic "ideal weight"?
Here's my question, I'm 5' 4" currently weigh 183 pounds and the ideal weight charts online say I should weigh 112!!! Wha?? That's a 70 pound weight loss! How much stock have you put into those charts, and for those 5'4" ladies - What's a realistic "ideal weight"?
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Replies
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TashaFat2Fit wrote: »Read that in your best Seinfeld voice..
Here's my question, I'm 5' 4" currently weigh 183 pounds and the ideal weight charts online say I should weigh 112!!! Wha?? That's a 70 pound weight loss! How much stock have you put into those charts, and for those 5'4" ladies - What's a realistic "ideal weight"?
Your BMI range is 110-144. Where you would fall in that range would depend on your skeletal build, muscle mass, etc...
There's no such thing as an "ideal weight" because everyone has different builds. My wife is athletic and muscular...she looks very good and is quite lean at the higher end of her range...she would look sickly at the low end because she's not a petite build.10 -
TashaFat2Fit wrote: »Read that in your best Seinfeld voice..
Here's my question, I'm 5' 4" currently weigh 183 pounds and the ideal weight charts online say I should weigh 112!!! Wha?? That's a 70 pound weight loss! How much stock have you put into those charts, and for those 5'4" ladies - What's a realistic "ideal weight"?
Like cwolfman13 says, where you should be at within that range depends on how you are built. Often when someone is overweight or obese for years they carry a bit of extra muscle, so the higher end of the range is likely more appropriate. For someone who has been building muscle through weight lifting for many years they would focus on body fat percentage rather than a weight range due to higher levels of lean body mass.5 -
Thanks! It's been a minute since I weighed 140 but I remember looking pretty darn thin! The BMI calculator is helpful.2
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Yea that's crazy. Most charts I see say a female at 5'4" should be about 120. I too am 5'4 and my "ideal weight" for myself is 155, so I have about 10lbs to go. I can't imagine myself any lower than 150, 112 is definitely way too small but the weight on someone of our height can look different depending on where that weight is sitting. I don't pay attention to those charts. Go by what you feel is best/healthiest for you and what your doctor says.
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112 is for someone extremely small-boned, I would guess. I am pretty average in build and am really happy at 135 now...I think I'd look amazing at 128-130 but it's really hard to maintain this current weight. When I was 10 lbs heavier, I still would be described by most people as "thin" or at least "healthy" and wore a size 6 or 8.2
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Msneshababy wrote: »Yea that's crazy. Most charts I see say a female at 5'4" should be about 120. I too am 5'4 and my "ideal weight" for myself is 155, so I have about 10lbs to go. I can't imagine myself any lower than 150, 112 is definitely way too small but the weight on someone of our height can look different depending on where that weight is sitting. I don't pay attention to those charts. Go by what you feel is best/healthiest for you and what your doctor says.
Thank you! As it stands now, even at 183, no one would think I weigh that much. I carry weight everywhere and in my stomach. ☺ 150 would be awesome! Good luck!1 -
I'm 5'4" and I think I look good in the 140-145 range. Right now I'm about 160 and trying to get back below 150 and see how I'm feeling there. I like to lift weights though and have muscle so too small isn't a look that would suit me I don't think.3
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Those old fashioned ideal weight charts usually have some small print at the bottom that says "wearing 2 inch heels", and they give options for small, medium and large frames. Most times you see a BMI chart these days instead of an ideal weight chart. Anyway, what does it say for a 5'6" woman? That's you in 2" heels.7
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For my height, (5'1'') the range would be 100-132 for a "healthy" BMI.
I was about 130 at my lightest, and I could've certainly lost a few more pounds.
Any time I've been heavier I definitely would've said that's an unreasonable expectation, but after getting there, yeah, it's very reasonable.
(And what I used to think was a "large frame" was actually just extra fat..)8 -
Like everyone else said, your "ideal weight" will range. I think your ideal weight is whatever your weight when you get about 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 days a week and follow a meal pattern that is sustainable for life.
Something important to understand with the BMI is that it is a marker of health risk. When researchers track health outcomes and weight, they find BMI's in the 18-25 range have the best health outcomes, meaning lowest risk of disease and longest life.
Some research shows better health outcomes in the 25-30 range, but that is often because they do not control for smoking or diseases like cancer and COPD. BMI's in the 30+ range have the worst health outcomes, as do BMI's in the less then 18 ranges.
It might also be helpful to look at your waist circumference. If you take a tape measure around your waist using your belly button as a guide, ideally you want it to be less then 35 inches for a woman and 40 inches for a man.3 -
I'm 5'4 and weighed 130-135 in high school. That was a size 6 then (20 years ago; who knows now with vanity sizing!) 112 would definitely be too low for me to try to attain.2
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I'm a big believer in BMI.4
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Yeah, no. I'm 5'8" and based on my advanced age the charts say I should weigh 120ish. I didn't even weigh that little in high school (was 130). Not going to happen. I am hoping for 150 - maybe 160 if it is muscle and not jiggle.1
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I understand what you mean. I'm also 5'4" and 112 is way to small for me. I have a large frame and am busty no matter my size. I typically look and feel my best right around 140lb.1
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Ready2Rock206 wrote: »Yeah, no. I'm 5'8" and based on my advanced age the charts say I should weigh 120ish. I didn't even weigh that little in high school (was 130). Not going to happen. I am hoping for 150 - maybe 160 if it is muscle and not jiggle.
The chart is a range not a single number. 120s for 5'8 is the lowest number but it goes much higher than that. 150 is in the normal range for 5'84 -
Just echoing the comments above. The charts and things are a "guide", just as BMI should also be (though for some reason it's gospel). People start asking me if I'm sick/eating disordered/making skinny jokes/etc. when I get below 145. I'm 5'5".0
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I'm 5'5" and currently 167. I've lost 25lbs so far, and I'm still working at getting to right around 155. A few years ago, I dropped to 150 lbs and I didn't like how I looked at all. My hip bones were popping out, my face was gaunt. I will keep working to be healthy, STRONG, and comfortable. Forget the charts and do what looks/feels good to you. Best of luck!!1
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Check the formulas as 112 lbs for 5'4" sounds a bit low...
The TDEE calculator I use (https://tdeecalculator.net) provides a sample of 'ideal' weights (which are typically right in the middle of the BMI range) based on multiple formulas, but with caveats...
For 5'4" female, it says this...
Ideal Weight: 120-129 lbs
Your ideal body weight is estimated to be between 120-129 lbs based on the various formulas listed below. These formulas are based on your height and represent averages so don't take them too seriously, especially if you lift weights.
G.J. Hamwi Formula (1964) 120 lbs
B.J. Devine Formula (1974) 121 lbs
J.D. Robinson Formula (1983) 123 lbs
D.R. Miller Formula (1983) 129 lbs
I think @Tried30UserNames is on to something as 112 is right in the range for a 5'2" female per my calculator (which says: 110-123 lbs).3 -
ugh! I hate those charts. As a former marathon runner, I once found an online calculator that would compare race times to elite athletes when compensating for certain handicaps (such as excess weight). In order to be a "world class" marathoner (at my then-fitness levels), it recommended that I weigh 88 pounds! That would be scary!
I'm a littly shy of 5'3" and I consider myself to be looking pretty good (and fit) around 130-135lbs, which is toward the top of the range given for my height. My build is "on the larger side of medium" and I'm very active and tend to have a fairly muscular build. If I'm super ill (think flu or mono for a month or two) then I can drop down to 120-125lbs (and rock a bikini) but that's a pretty unhealthy / atrophied weight for me.2 -
I'm 5'4" (and 1/2 dammit) and have a petite build and I looked and felt fluffy at 140. I'm currently at 130 and while I feel good, I'm curious to see what I look like after another 5-10 lbs.
I would say aim for something at the high end of the Healthy BMI range. Once you get there, check with how you look and feel. If you're happy at that point, but still concerned that you are on the high end, get a physical and see what your numbers are and what the doctor has to say. All the charts and formulas and other people's opinions can only get you so far, only you can really determine what the right weight for you is 5 -
I'd set an initial weight loss goal at the upper end of the "normal" weight range and then see how you look and feel.
I'm 5'5", depending on who measures me, and my initial goal was to get from 180 down to 155. When I got there I felt very accomplished, but I knew I was still a little "fluffy" in the mid-section. Still working to get down into the 140's, build a little muscle, and then re-assess. The end result is a moving target, in my opinion.
Here's an interesting calculator that includes your age in the equation. According to this one I'm in the normal range right now!
http://www.smartbmicalculator.com/2 -
I'm 5'4.75". The range I get is 110 - 148 so 112 would be on the the low end. Usual;y the "ideal" weight is more in the middle of the range. But it really comes down to each individual. Most charts say my "ideal" weight is 122 - 127 or so. I currently weigh 124 down from 195. I think I would look too thin at 112, but I think that where I am is perfectly reasonable. There is no reason to aim for the low end of the range. There is nothing wrong with being at the high end of the range. My goal was actually 135, but I had a hard time finding my maintenance calories and ended up losing more than I planned on and I am quite happy where I am now.2
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I'm 5'3 and though I put in an ideal weight, I'm really going for size and fitness level. I don't know how much I weigh right now and guesstimated my input based on clothing size. At my thinnest, I was a size 2. Friends/family say I looked best at a size 6. That size difference spanned close to the bottom to close to the top of the weight range for my height.
My goal is to get back to a size 2. I'm attaching a pic to show the difference in sizes on a curvy (pear-shaped)/athletic build at 5'3. As you can see, at the size 6 (130-ish), I look 'healthy' but not thin or even slim. In the size 4 (120-ish) pic, I'm wearing size 2 pants and you can clearly see how that caused a muffin top of fat. At size 2 (110-ish), I was slim but could have done with some toning.
Right now, I am a size 16 (pic not included
). I only started 4 days ago and am not sure of how much I've dropped but my pants fit a bit better. It seems like a drastic amount of weight to lose (I'm assuming that I have around 80 pounds to lose) and it is. However, the pound charts seem about right when looked at in clothing size. 4 -
Man are we all stupid, me included. I have been somewhat fascinated by the topic of "ideal weight" lately:
People like to talk about "ideal weight," but no one seems ever to say "ideal weight for what" I told my doctor (who is also a male of my age) that I had been losing weight and had gotten close to a BMI of 26. I asked him if I should go lower. His response:
"There is no evidence that (going lower than a BMI of 26) will improve your health."
By this he meant that if you are reasonably light, other factors can easily outweigh weight (genetics, activity level, nutrition, drug and alcohol use, etc.) in terms of health risk.
As it happens, I decided to lose 5lbs more and got to a BMI of 25. It makes me happy to be a bit lighter when I go running and cycling, so I guess it's worth it.3 -
Msneshababy wrote: »Yea that's crazy. Most charts I see say a female at 5'4" should be about 120.
I haven't seen anything like that other than the old and outdated insurance charts not used anymore, which used to be 100 lb + 5 lbs for each inch. Because of that I've always had in my head that I should be 115 at 5'3, but I don't actually take it seriously. (I think it would be a little thinner than ideal for me.)0 -
onlymuttix wrote: »I'm 5'3 and though I put in an ideal weight, I'm really going for size and fitness level. I don't know how much I weigh right now and guesstimated my input based on clothing size. At my thinnest, I was a size 2. Friends/family say I looked best at a size 6. That size difference spanned close to the bottom to close to the top of the weight range for my height.
My goal is to get back to a size 2. I'm attaching a pic to show the difference in sizes on a curvy (pear-shaped)/athletic build at 5'3. As you can see, at the size 6 (130-ish), I look 'healthy' but not thin or even slim. In the size 4 (120-ish) pic, I'm wearing size 2 pants and you can clearly see how that caused a muffin top of fat. At size 2 (110-ish), I was slim but could have done with some toning..
I think you look perfect in all three pics. I don't see a muffin top and honestly you look as skinny in your wedding pic as you do in the "size 2" one. JMHO.
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I'm 5'11 and 38 years old. In 2011 I got down to 142. I was a size 4. I wasn't too thin for my build, but I couldn't maintain it. I basically did it because I could. I wanted to prove to myself that I could be a small size. My happy range is 150-155. Trying to get back to that after a very lazy, food driven winter.
Even though I fully believe 112 for a 5'4" woman is a bit low, 140 isn't if I can support it on a frame 6" taller.
Honestly, I wouldn't even think of that now. I'd just start losing weight and stop when I'm happy. People get so lost in the numbers and get bogged down and lose motivation because the task at hand is SO hard.1 -
onlymuttix wrote: »I'm 5'3 and though I put in an ideal weight, I'm really going for size and fitness level. I don't know how much I weigh right now and guesstimated my input based on clothing size. At my thinnest, I was a size 2. Friends/family say I looked best at a size 6. That size difference spanned close to the bottom to close to the top of the weight range for my height.
My goal is to get back to a size 2. I'm attaching a pic to show the difference in sizes on a curvy (pear-shaped)/athletic build at 5'3. As you can see, at the size 6 (130-ish), I look 'healthy' but not thin or even slim. In the size 4 (120-ish) pic, I'm wearing size 2 pants and you can clearly see how that caused a muffin top of fat. At size 2 (110-ish), I was slim but could have done with some toning.
Right now, I am a size 16 (pic not included ). I only started 4 days ago and am not sure of how much I've dropped but my pants fit a bit better. It seems like a drastic amount of weight to lose (I'm assuming that I have around 80 pounds to lose) and it is. However, the pound charts seem about right when looked at in clothing size.
You look amazing at all sizes! When I was in high school nearly 20 years ago I was 117 pounds and STILL wore a size 6! I don't think I could ever fit in a size 2. When I met husband, I was a size 8 at 130 pounds. Best of luck to you! I'm just starting too0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »Msneshababy wrote: »Yea that's crazy. Most charts I see say a female at 5'4" should be about 120.
I haven't seen anything like that other than the old and outdated insurance charts not used anymore, which used to be 100 lb + 5 lbs for each inch. Because of that I've always had in my head that I should be 115 at 5'3, but I don't actually take it seriously. (I think it would be a little thinner than ideal for me.)
Thats what i get for using Google to look up an ideal weight chart...ha ha!0 -
In the UK Our NHS says that 108lbs is the lowest for 5ft4
http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Healthyweightcalculator.aspx
Edit to add I'm that height and stay around 1181
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