Weight Management Average Weight for Women: What is a Healthy Range for Age and Height? By Vincent Iannelli, MD Vincent Iannelli, MD Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 22, 2024 Medically reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS Medically reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS Rachel Goldman, Ph.D., FTOS, is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, speaker, and wellness expert specializing in weight management and eating behaviors. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Verywell / Amelia Manley Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Average Weight of Women Younger Girls Averages Over Time Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle To help determine a healthy weight for yourself, knowing the average weight of women in America based on factors like age and height can often serve as a baseline comparison. However, just because a certain range is an average does not necessarily mean that it's the right target weight for you. Health looks different for every individual and a variety factors contribute to weight, including genetics, age, height, body composition, environment, diet, lifestyle, metabolism, and more. With that in mind, here's the average weight for U.S. women based on data from the Centers for Disease and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Plus, lifestyle tips that can be helpful in promoting general health regardless of body size or numbers on the scale. Average Weight for Adult Women The number on a scale is not always the best indicator in determining whether or not you are at a healthy weight for you. Other factors, such as your body mass index (BMI), can give some additional insight into your weight. Your BMI score takes into account your height as well as your weight and is measured on a scale that includes the following categories underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. This BMI calculator can give you an estimate. You also can look at charts to help give you some additional insight. However, it's important to keep in mind that BMI is not a perfect measure. Variables such as age, sex, muscle tone, athleticism, body frame size, and pregnancy can sometimes produce misleading BMI results. And in general, women usually have more body fat than men. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a dated, biased measure that doesn’t account for several factors, such as body composition, ethnicity, race, gender, and age. Despite being a flawed measure, BMI is widely used today in the medical community because it is an inexpensive and quick method for analyzing potential health status and outcomes. What Is Body Mass Index (BMI) and What Does It Measure? U.S. Averages According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average weight of a U.S. woman aged 20 years and older is 170.6 pounds with an average height of about 5 feet, 4 inches tall. In addition, the average waist circumference is 38.6 inches and BMI is 29.2, which falls within the overweight range. Average Weight for 5'4" Female Height in inches: 63.5Weight in pounds: 170.8Waist circumference in inches: 38.7 These statistics are from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted from 2015-2018. The national average is up from 168.5 pounds as noted in the previous survey (2011-2014). The chart below shows the average weight for adult women in the U.S. according to different age groups. Average Weight for American Women by Age Age Group Average Weight 20–29 165 pounds 30-39 174.9 pounds 40–49 178.1 pounds 60–69 172.4 pounds 70–79 164.6 pounds 80 and over 149.7 pounds The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute indicates that a healthy weight for a woman who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall ranges from 110 to 140 pounds with a BMI of 19 to 24. A woman whose BMI score is above 25 falls in the overweight category and 30 and above falls in the obesity category. Global Averages When both men and women are factored into the equation, the adult population of North America has a higher average BMI than the rest of the world. One study notes that 73.9% of people in North America are considered overweight, compared to 34.7% of the world population. Here's a closer look at the average weight for adult women in different regions of the world. Average Weight for Adult Women Around the World Region Average Weight Asia 127 pounds Europe 156 pounds Africa 133 pounds Latin America/Caribbean 149 pounds North America 177 pounds Oceania 163 pounds World 136 pounds Average Weight for Girls As with adults, the average weight for girls does not necessarily correlate to the range considered to be healthy. According to the CDC, one in five children falls within the obesity category, which is evident in the national averages listed below. Here are the average weights at each age for girls. Average Weight for American Girls Age Average Weight 1 year 24.1 pounds 2 years 29.1 pounds 3 years 34 pounds 4 years 40 pounds 5 years 46.2 pounds 6 years 52.3 pounds 7 years 60.2 pounds 8 years 69.1 pounds 9 years 76.9 pounds 10 years 90.6 pounds 11 years 106.1 pounds 12 years 116.9 pounds 13 years 125.8 pounds 14 years 137 pounds 15 years 137.5 pounds 16 years 144.9 pounds 17 years 149.7 pounds 18 years 151.6 pounds 19 years 156.5 pounds For a more accurate gauge of your child's weight, use a kids' growth chart. Comparing a child to the 50th percentile will give you a better idea of how their growth compares to the average growth rate for other children their age. You can also use this BMI calculator for children and adolescents provided by the CDC. BMI and Kids: Should You Care About Your Child's BMI? Averages Over Time How has the average weight and body composition of adults in the U.S. changed over the years? Measurements of BMI, weight, height, and even head circumference have been taken since the 1960s. For instance, one research report published in 1966 stated that "American men range in average weight from 146 pounds at 62 inches in height to 190 pounds at 73 inches; while for American women this average progresses from 129 pounds at 58 inches to 157 pounds at 67 inches." Since at least the 1960s, both men and women in the U.S. have been getting larger in both height and weight. Obesity has increased rapidly among women since 1980. While the weight of an average woman in any country can tell you a lot about weight trends, it should not be used as the only gauge for assessing your current weight and overall health. There are several individual factors that will play a role in your ideal target weight. Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle Remember that you can be healthy at any size, especially if you prioritize healthy lifestyle factors such as: Follow a balanced diet filled with nutrient-dense, whole foods. Get regular exercise and focus on moving more throughout your day and sitting less. Talk to a healthcare provider if you're concerned about whether you might be overweight or underweight. They may refer you to a registered dietitian or nutritionist or recommend that you work with a personal trainer to help you meet your health goals. 10 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Body measurements. Stanford FC, Tauqeer Z, Kyle TK. Media and its influence on obesity. Curr Obes Rep. 2018;7(2):186-192. doi:10.1007/s13679-018-0304-0 Gutin I. In BMI we trust: Reframing the body mass index as a measure of health. Soc Theory Health. 2018;16(3):256-271. doi:10.1057/s41285-017-0055-0 National Center for Health Statistics. Anthropometric reference data for children and adults: United States, 2015–2018. Fryar CD. Gu Q, Ogden CL, Flegal KM. Anthropometric reference data for children and adults: United States, 2011–2014. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Statistics. Series 3: Number 39; 2016. Walpole SC, Prieto-Merino D, Edwards P, Cleland J, Stevens G, Roberts I. The weight of nations: An estimation of adult human biomass. BMC Public Health. 2012;12:439. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-439 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Childhood obesity facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Growth charts. Roberts J. Weight by height and age of adults: United States, 1960–1962. Vital Health Statistics. Public Health Service Publication No. 1000~S. Series 11, Number 14. Washington, DC: National Center for Health Statistics US Public Health Service; 1966. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases. Overweight and obesity statistics. Additional Reading Kar P. Partha Kar: Dieting and body shaming. BMJ. 2019;364:l1222. doi:10.1136/bmj.l1222 Ravary A, Baldwin MW, Bartz JA. Shaping the body politic: Mass media fat-shaming affects implicit anti-fat attitudes. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2019;45(11):1580-1589. doi:10.1177/0146167219838550 By Vincent Iannelli, MD Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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