For years, people looked up their weight on tables drawn from insurance company statistics. While those are still around, this is a newer, more accurate way to calculate what is truly a healthy weight range for you.
How is Ideal Weight Determined?
Your ideal weight range-- --is based on a formula that calculates what a healthy weight is for most people of your height ( inches) and frame size ().
Are There Other Methods to Determining Ideal Weight?
The weight above calculated with your height is only a measure of weight and obesity based on BMI. Specific methods exist to assess the actual composition of your body and specifically the percentage of fat. These methods include hydrostatic (or underwater) weighing, Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA), Bioelectrical Impedance, and Skin Fold Testing. Hydrostatic weighing and DEXA are considered the "gold standards" and are the most accurate in measuring body fatness. However, both methods require sophisticated equipment and can be expensive. Bioelectrical Impedance is portable and easy to use. Its accuracy is within 3-5% of hydrostatic weighing as long as the protocol is followed closely. Skin fold measurements are inexpensive and a convenient way to measure body fatness. The method is accurate if performed by a well trained technician. This method is not accurate in the obese population.
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