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What is the Normal Water Weight for a Human?

Normal water weight for humans is two-thirds of the body mass, but it can vary from 50 percent to 80 percent. The range is based on factors such as gender, body type, exercise and health.

  1. What is Water Weight?

    • Almost every cell of the body contains water. Most of it is stored in the blood, muscles and brain. About 77 percent of the brain and 75 percent of the muscles are made of water.

    Determining Water Weight

    • Find a scale that measures water weight.

      Several scales can be used to determine your water weight. Choose the time of day to weigh yourself. Water levels are lowest in the morning because of sweating and digestion throughout the night. The best time to monitor your water weight is between breakfast and lunch.

    Increase in Water Weight

    • Salt intake determines water retention.

      Ovulation is the primary factor that contributes to water-weight increase in women. The hormones estrogen and progesterone are prepare the body for pregnancy by retaining water to create a lining of tissue in the uterus. Women can experience water-weight gains of two to five pounds during this time. Other causes of water-weight gain include menopause, inactivity, allergic reaction, excessive salt intake or a more serious issue, such as edema--extreme water retention that usually shows up in the legs and feet.

    Fad Diets

    • Choose a natural diuretic

      Diets that promise to help you lose weight quickly are diuretics that force the body to expel excess water. Some diuretics cause water that is needed at the cellular level to be expelled, as well as iron, potassium and calcium. If you are concerned about excessive water weight, consult your doctor, increase exercise or choose natural diuretics, such as green tea, apple cider, watermelon, cucumbers, cranberries, cabbage and tomatoes.

    Seven glasses a day?

    • To maintain normal water weight, drink plenty of water each day. Water flushes the body of excess toxins, and if you try to lose water weight by dehydrating yourself, the opposite will occur. Depriving the body of water sends a signal to store water as a backup.

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