How to Find the Average Weight for Your Age & Height

You can compare your weight to the population average for your weight and height by converting the average body mass index (BMI) for your age into the corresponding weight for the average. Note that BMI charts deal in percentiles, which is a determination of how much of the population has a measurement below a certain level. For example, the 50th percentile is the point where half of the population has a higher measurement and half of them have a lower measurement. So "average" here means the 50th percentile.

Instructions

1

Look up the 50th percentile BMI on a BMI chart or graph. Refer to the BMI for your age on the Halls site in the references. Find the graph for your gender. Then find your age on the vertical axis. Then find what the 50th percentile curve's BMI reads for that age.

For example, if your age is 40 and you're male, the 50th percentile BMI in the United States is 27.

2

Back the height out of the BMI figure that you pulled off in Step 1. Note that BMI is defined as a ratio of kilograms in weight divided by meters in height squared. The formula is more complex in pounds and inches. To back your height out, multiply the BMI by your height in meters (or inches) squared.

Continuing with the above example, suppose you are 6 feet tall. That's 72 inches. Square that to get 5,184. Then multiply it by the BMI. 27 x 5184 = 140,000.

3

Divide by 704.5 if you are using inches and pounds. If you used meters, and you weigh yourself in kilograms, then the result of Step 2 has already produced your result, the 50th percentile of weight for your age and height.

Continuing with the above example, divide 140,000 by 704.5 to get 199 pounds. This is the 50th percentile weight for a U.S. male who is 40 years of age and 6 feet tall.