How to Calculate an Ideal Body Weight Range

Knowing your ideal body weight is an important tool toward determining overall health. For example, it can point to necessary dietary and exercise adjustments in order to either lose or gain weight. Health professionals now use body mass index, or BMI, rather than a height-to-weight range given in pounds, as an indication of healthy weight. Other considerations factor in, however, so do not use BMI as a sole health indicator.

Instructions

Determine Your BMI

• 1

  Height is an important component in determining BMI.

  Determine your weight in pounds. Determine your height in inches squared. If you are 5-foot-8, for instance, you are 68 inches tall.

• 2

  Divide weight by height. Multiply that number by 703. This is your BMI

• 3

  A BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight; between 18.5 and 24.9 is normal; 25 to 29.9 is overweight; 30 or above is considered obese.

• 4