How to Find How Much Weight I Should Be

One person's ideal body weight is different than another person's ideal weight. First you should determine if you feel healthy at your current weight. If you weigh too much or too little, you may be at risk for health problems and feel sluggish.There are several ways to determine how much you should weigh. To start you should know your weight. Grab a scale and weigh yourself, so you can set a realistic goal to either gain or lose weight.

Things You'll Need

• Scale
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Calculator

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Instructions

• 1

  Use the Body Mass Index (BMI) method. It is the most frequent measurement of a person's ideal weight. BMI is your weight compared to your height. To determine your BMI, use a calculator and multiply your weight by 703. Then, divide the sum by your height in inches. A BMI of less than 18.5 means you are underweight. A BMI of between 18.5 and 25 is ideal. A BMI between 25 and 30 is classed as overweight. Lastly, a BMI over 30 is considered obese, according to The American Heart Association.

• 2

  Use the waist-to-hip ratio. This is the distance around the circumference of your waist, the area above your belly button, to that of your hips. To calculate, bend your forearm upward at a 90-degree angle. Keep your fingers straight and turn the inside of your wrist horizontal toward your body. Place your elbow on one of your hip bones so that your thumb and index finger wrap around your waist to the other bone. Using a tape measure or ruler, measure the area just below your belly button, known as the waist. Then measure the space between the hip bones. The measurement of the hips divided by by the measurement of the waist is the waist-to-hip ratio. People with less than 0.8 waist-to-hip ratio have low risk of cardiovascular health problems. People with 0.8 to 0.99 have a moderate risk of cardiovascular health problems. People with one or over have a high risk of cardiovascular health problems, according to The University of Maryland.

• 3

  Consult the height and weight charts created by The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company tables can also help you to determine your ideal weight. These charts also take into account your frame. These charts can be found online or in a doctor's office, to help determine how much you should weigh.

• 4

  Determine lean body weight or the body weight without fat, another method to find your ideal weight. This is a measurement of all of the body's organs, bone and muscles. Calculated the weight of body fat by multiplying your total body weight multiplied by body fat percentage (BMI). Then subtract the total body weight by by the weight of body fat (BMI). This will equal your lean body mass.