What Are Two Factors That Help Determine How Much You Should Weigh?

Determining your ideal weight involves body measurements, risk factors and body frame size. Two important and valid ways to determine how much you should weigh are your BMI score and your waist-to-hip ratio. Calculating these factors can help you reach your desired weight.

Body Mass Index

• Body mass index (BMI) is used to measure the amount of body fat an individual has. BMI calculations require height, weight and age, and they are not affected by body frame or gender. When determining your ideal body weight using BMI calculations, the Center for Disease Control reports that a healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. Anything less than 18.5 is considered to be underweight, and anything greater than 24.9 is considered overweight.

Waist-to-Hip Ratio

• A reliable way to determine ideal body weight and obesity risk factors is by evaluating an individual's waist-to-hip ratio. This involves dividing the total number of inches around the waist by the total number of inches around the hips. For women, a ratio of 0.8 or less is considered healthy, while a ratio of 0.95 or less is considered healthy for men. By assessing waist-to-hip ratio, an individual can determine his ideal weight to reduce risk factors for disease and obesity. This is because belly fat is more dangerous than fat stored in other areas of the body, and reaching a healthy waist-to-hip ratio is more likely to bring you to a healthy, ideal weight, according to MSNBC.

Reliability of BMI

• Although the BMI score is a valid way to determine body composition, it may not work as well for some people. This is because the BMI score may overestimate body fat in people who are athletically built because muscle weighs more than fat. It can also underestimate body fat in the elderly and those who have a lower amount of muscle mass.

Other Factors

• Other factors that help determine ideal body weight include body frame, gender, height and other risk factors for disease and obesity. Using a combination of all of these factors can more reliably help you determine your ideal body weight. If you are unsure about the ideal weight for your body type, consult with your regular physician to determine what weight suits you best.