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The average weight for women has changed drastically through the years. For American women, the average increased by 11 pounds (7%) (1) between 1988 and 2002 despite the fact there is was almost no change in their average height.
Instead of 152 pounds, the average weight for American women (2) grew to 163 pounds. And, compared to 1960 when the average weight for women in America was 140 pounds, it has increased by 23 pounds. The average weight for women in the UK is also rising. Between 1980 and 2008, the average weight for women in the UK increased from 10 stone (140 pounds) to 11 stone, 2 pounds (156 pounds). This makes British women the fattest in Europe (3). These numbers are alarming due to all of the medical research showing how dangerous obesity is to overall health and well-being. For women, the risks are especially grave.
In women, obesity has been linked to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), an increased risk of diabetes (4), cardiovascular disease and several cancers, including endometrial cancer and postmenopausal breast cancer. New research has also shown that obesity can contribute to female infertility (5). In a recent study, women who were severely obese were 43% less likely to get pregnant than non-obese women. One speculated reason for this is that fluctuations in the hormone leptin may prevent successful fertilization. The risks of obesity are clear so the question is, how do we avoid it?
First, let’s try to determine if there is such a thing as an ideal healthy weight for women. The BMI (Body Mass Index) is a tool used to determine healthy body fat percentages based on a person’s weight and height. The following classifications are used to determine whether or not a person is overweight or obese:
BMI Categories:
- Underweight = <18.5
- Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
- Overweight = 25–29.9
- Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
By using our BMI Calculator you can calculate the average height and weight to see for ourselves just how much the health of the average woman has changed over the years. At 5’4” tall and 140 pounds, the average American woman in 1960, with a BMI of 24, was within the range of what is considered normal and healthy. Comparatively, a 5’4” women who weighs 163 pounds has a BMI of 28 and is considered overweight. Thus, the average American woman today is overweight. Similarly, the average British woman has a BMI of 26.8 and would also be considered to be overweight. This means that the average American woman needs to lose about 20 pounds while the average British woman needs to lose about 10 to 15 pounds. It is important to understand while considering what is normal or healthy that there is no one ideal weight for women.
What we are talking about is a healthy range of weight that contributes to keeping your body at optimal health. For a 5’4” women, that range is approximately 110 to 145 pounds. There is no need to starve oneself down to a size 00 in order to maintain good health. In fact, a model who weighs 120 pounds at 5’10” tall would be considered underweight. The goal should never be to starve oneself down to an unhealthy beauty ideal but rather to maintain a healthy weight through a balanced diet and moderate daily activity.
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