The Average Weight & Height of a Woman

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2004, American women were on average, one inch taller and 25 pounds heavier than they were in 1960. The average height and weight for adult women 20 years of age and over was 63.8 inches and 164.7 pounds, respectively.

Women 20 to 29

• Younger women between the ages of 20 and 29 had the largest average weight gains, weighing 29 pounds more in 2004 than they did in 1960.

Women 40 to 49

• The second largest gain was recorded for middle-aged women between 40 and 49 years old. They increased average weight by 25.5 pounds between 1960 and 2004.

Women 60 to 74

• Women between the ages of 60 and 74 recorded the lowest gains with an average increase of 17.5 pounds during the same time period.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

• Body Mass Index (BMI) represents body fat relative to height and weight. A BMI that ranges between 18.5 and 24.9 represents a normal weight, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. A BMI of 18.5 or less qualifies as underweight, while a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese.