How much does the average American woman weigh? The average American woman 20 years old and up weighs 170.6 pounds and stands at 63.7 inches (almost 5 feet, 4 inches) tall. And the average waist circumference? It’s 38.6 inches. These numbers may or may not be surprising to you. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that some 39.8 percent of adults in the United States are obese, based on data through 2016. For women, this breaks down as follows: Age group (years) Percent considered overweight or obese Percent considered obese 20-34 59.6 34.8 35-44 67.7 43.4 45-54 69.5 42.9 55-64 74.5 48.2 65-74 75.6 43.5 75 and up 67.4 32.7 As of 2016, the average weights for women in different age groups were : Age group (years) Average weight (pounds) 20-39 167.6 40-59 176.4 60 and older 166.5

How do Americans compare to the rest of the world? People in North America have the highest average body mass in the world, according to a 2012 study. More than 70 percent of the population falls into the overweight-to-obese ranges. People in Asia, on the other hand, have the lowest body mass. Specifically, the average body mass index (BMI) for Japan in 2005 was just 22.9. In comparison, the average BMI in the United States was 28.7. If you need another way to look at it, 1 ton of body mass represents 12 North American adults. In Asia, 1 ton represents 17 adults. The percentages of people worldwide who are considered overweight are listed below: Region Percent considered overweight Asia 24.2 Europe 55.6 Africa 28.9 Latin America and the Caribbean 57.9 North America 73.9 Oceania 63.3 World 34.7

How are weight ranges determined? Your height, sex, and fat and muscle composition all factor into your ideal weight. There are various tools to help you figure out your number. BMI, one of the most popular tools, uses a formula that involves your height and weight. To calculate your BMI, divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared. Then multiply that result by 703. You can also plug this information into an online calculator . Once you know your BMI, you can determine where it falls: Underweight: anything under 18.5

anything under 18.5 Healthy: anything between 18.5 and 24.9

anything between 18.5 and 24.9 Overweight: anything between 25.0 and 29.9

anything between 25.0 and 29.9 Obese: anything above 30.0 Although this method offers a good starting point, your BMI may not always be the most accurate measure of your ideal weight. Why? It goes back to factors such as frame size, muscle composition, and your age. Athletes, for example, may weigh more due to high muscle mass and get an overweight result. Older adults, on the other hand, tend to store more fat than younger adults. It’s important to note that BMI for children and teens is given as a percentile. Their heights and weights are constantly changing. As a result, it’s most useful to look at their BMIs in relationship to the BMIs of other children who are the same age and sex. For example, a 13-year-old girl who is 5 feet tall and weighs 100 pounds has a BMI of 19.5. However, her BMI would be expressed as “at the 60th percentile” for 13-year-old girls. This means her weight is greater than that of 60 percent of her peers, placing her in the healthy range.

What’s the relationship between weight and height? Even with its limitations, your BMI can be a good starting place when looking at your overall health. To see where your BMI falls, take a look at this chart to find your ideal weight by height. Height in feet and inches Healthy weight in pounds (or BMI 18.5–24.9) 4’10” 91–119 4’11” 94–123.5 5’ 97–127.5 5’1” 100–132 5’2” 104–136 5’3” 107–140.5 5’4” 110–145 5’5” 114–149.5 5’6” 118–154 5’7” 121–159 5’8” 125–164 5’9” 128–168.5 5’10” 132–173.5 5’11” 136–178.5 6’ 140–183.5 6’1” 144–189 6’2” 148–194 6’3” 152–199