Sixty-six percent of US adults are considered overweight or obese. People who are overweight are at increased health risk for diseases including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, gout, and certain types of cancer. Studies have shown that losing as little as 5 percent to 10 percent of your body weight can improve your health.

Likewise, being underweight can also lead to health conditions such as anemia, heart problems, and chronic fatigue. An obsession with weight loss may also lead to eating disorders and nutritional deficiencies that may be life threatening.

Use the Healthy Body Weight Calculator to determine your healthy body weight range.

To find out your healthy body weight range, enter your height in feet and inches and your current weight in pounds. Then click on “Calculate.”

Please note:
The healthy body weight calculator does not account for pregnancy, breastfeeding women, athletes and those with a muscular build, older persons or persons who have loss of muscle mass, and illness. Also, it is not intended for those individuals under 18 years of age, or those who are under 5 feet tall or over 7 feet tall.

Healthy weight range is based on a healthy body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 24.9. The higher weights in each range apply to people with more muscle and bone. Individuals with weights above the healthy weight range may be at higher risk for developing health problems.

Always consult your physician for more information regarding your health risks and healthy body weight, weight loss therapy, and weight control programs.

Adapted from Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans (Washington, DC: US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, 2000).