Average Weight For Women: What Is A Healthy Range?

According to a 2021 report from the National Center for Health Statistics, the average weight of women in the U.S. over the age of 20 was 170.8 pounds. Meanwhile, the average height of women in the U.S. was reported as 63.5 inches.

Per the National Health Statistics Reports, the average weight of women in the United States between 2015-2016 was as follows:

“When making [weight] comparisons between American women and women in other parts of the world, various factors come into play such as genetics, culture and lifestyle choices,” explains John Neely, M.D., founder of Destinations Medical Spa in Los Angeles.

Our World in Data reported in 2016 that 37% of women in the U.S. were living with obesity. The same data revealed that only 2.6% of women in Vietnam and 3.7% of women in Japan had obesity. Conversely, several countries carried a higher rate of obesity than the U.S. While the Cook Islands saw a 59.2% rate of obesity in women in 2016, 63.3% of women in the small country of Nauru were living with obesity.

BMI is one tool that is used to calculate whether a person is considered to be a healthy weight for their height.

To calculate your BMI, multiply your weight in pounds by 703. Then, divide the result by your height in inches squared. The BMI number will then fit into one of these categories:

“BMI provides an estimate of body weight relative to each individual’s height,” explains Dr. Neely. “It shouldn’t be mistaken as the sole indicator of overall health, though, because more information must also be considered such as muscle mass or composition of your body.”

According to the American Cancer Society, a weight range for a moderate BMI number according to a person’s height is as follows:

While BMI is one indicator of a person’s health, it doesn’t show the entire picture. “When evaluating your body weight, you may also want to consider the other factors, which include overall body composition, amount of muscle mass and your overall health,” explains Laura Purdy, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician based in Miami Beach, Florida, and chief medical officer of OpenLoop, a digital health care company.

Importantly, BMI fails to take into account a person’s lifestyle, such as whether they’re athletic or not. While BMI is generally an indicator that a person has a high level of body fat, this wouldn’t be the case for an athlete, who is more likely to have a higher percentage of muscle.

Alternative methods for measuring a person’s body composition include:

• Skinfold thickness tests, in which calipers are used to create accurate measurements to estimate body fat percentage.
• Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), in which a device measures the resistance to electrical current through body tissue, building a picture of cells, fluids and water, and fat-free mass in the body.
• Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry, or a bone density scan, measures the bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in a person’s skeleton, as well as their total body fat and lean muscle mass.

A BMI over 25 is considered to be overweight. A BMI over 30 is categorized as having obesity. Those with overweight or obesity have an increased chance of developing certain serious medical issues, explains Dr. Purdy. According to the CDC, the Office on Women’s Health and Dr. Purdy, women who have overweight or obesity are at risk for:

• Certain cancers: According to a 2017 study, having overweight or obesity accounts for 55% of cancer diagnoses in women.
• Pregnancy complications: Having overweight or obesity can impact a woman’s fertility, and can also cause problems during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes, dangerously high blood pressure, and preeclampsia, per the Office on Women’s Health.

According to the CDC and Dr. Purdy, both men and women who have overweight or obesity are at risk of:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Coronary heart disease
• Osteoarthritis (when the cartilage and bone within a joint breaks down)
• Mental illness
• Sleep apnea
• Type 2 diabetes
• Gallbladder disease
• Heart, liver and kidney failure
• Increased risk of a heart attack or stroke
• Muscle and joint pain

Methods to help reduce the risk of developing these diseases include regular exercise and a balanced diet, Dr. Purdy explains.

A BMI reading of less than 18.5 is considered to be underweight. Being underweight can pose a number of risks for women according to experts, including:

• Malnutrition
• Osteoporosis (when bones weaken and break more easily)
• Menstrual cycle changes
• Difficulty getting pregnant
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Reduced immune function
• Depression

“Diet and exercise are considered the cornerstone of weight management,” says Rekha Kumar, M.D., chief medical officer at Found, a medically-assisted weight loss program, and a practicing endocrinologist in New York City. “Seeing a health care provider to guide weight management can allow for more structured guidance, support and accountability, as well as prescription medication when appropriate.”

Weight management strategies include:

• Exercise: The CDC recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week to maintain a healthy weight.
• Healthy eating: A diet that prioritizes fruits, vegetables, protein and whole grains, and is low in added sugars, sodium, saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol is recommended to maintain a healthy weight.
• Prescription medication: In some instances, a doctor may prescribe medication to address a BMI of more than 30, or more than 25 when a person is at risk of certain health conditions. Weight management medications work in a number of different ways, such as making a person feel fuller for longer or by limiting the amount of fat your body is able to extract from food.

“It is advisable to call a doctor if someone notices unintentional weight gain or weight loss, or if a change in weight is causing someone to feel unwell,” explains Dr. Kumar. “It is also reasonable to see a doctor prior to starting a weight loss program.”

“Persistent fatigue, changes in appetite or any other concerning symptoms should prompt immediate medical intervention,” says Dr. Neely. “Health care providers will assess your situation, make appropriate recommendations and address any possible health concerns that may exist.”