How to Measure the Perfect Weight

There is no such thing as the perfect weight. Average body weight varies by gender, age, and height. In addition, the amount of fat on a person's body is not always a clear indicator of general health. However, if you want to get a good idea of what weight may be healthy for you, and how to achieve it, finding your Body Mass Index (BMI) and Base Metabolic Rate (BMR) is a good start. Always consult a doctor before drastically changing your eating or exercise habits.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Scale (preferably sliding)
• Calculator

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Instructions

• 1

  Measure your height. With the help of a friend, stretch a measuring tape from your feet to the top of your head while standing. Record your height in inches and keep this information available for your calculations. Though you may have a height recorded on your driver's license, you shouldn't assume that it is perfectly accurate, particularly if you have not been measured for a while.

• 2

  Record your weight in pounds. Sliding scales, which balance out with metal weights, are often the most accurate because they can be zeroed out. If you do not have access to a sliding scale, which are often found at doctor's offices and some gyms, use an electronic scale. The most important thing is to use the same scale consistently to eliminate any variation.

• 3

  Calculate your BMI. Though it has been criticized for it's general nature, the Body Mass Index is a simple indicator of body fat. To calculate it, multiply your weight in pounds by 703. Then, divide by your height in inches squared. For example, a person who was 70 inches tall and 200 pounds would divide 140,600 by 4,900 (their height in inches squared) for a BMI of 28.7.

• 4

  Determine where you fall on the BMI scale. BMI measurements consider any BMI under 18.5 as underweight. People who fall between 18.5 and 24.9 are within the normal range. From 25-30 is labeled as overweight, and a BMI of over 30 indicates obesity. It is important to remember, however, that this system is by no means perfect. Each person feels healthiest and functions best at a specific weight; starving yourself to reach a BMI of 22 is far more dangerous to your health than being slightly overweight.

• 5

  Determine your BMR. If you decide you would like to lose weight, one way to proceed is to determine your base metabolic rate, or caloric needs. Using factors like age, weight, height, and gender, the BMR formula suggests a daily calorie intake for maintaining weight. Anything over will likely lead to weight gain, and staying under through a combination of portion control and calorie burning exercises will encourage weight loss. To calculate your BMR, use the formula below, known as the Harris-Benedict equation.

  Women:

  655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)

  Men:

  66 + (6.3 x weight in pounds) + (12.9 x height in inches) - (6.8 x age in years)

  The result will be the number of calories you can consume each day to avoid weight gain.