What is a Healthy Weight?

Last Updated on January 17, 2020 by Paula

Do you wonder how close or far you are from being a healthy weight? One way to tell is by typing your height and weight into an online BMI (Body Mass Index) calculator. If your body mass index comes out to be more than 24.9, it means that you’re overweight.

So for example, a woman who is five-foot three inches tall and weighs 150 pounds has a body mass index (BMI) of 26.6, which is considered overweight.

Other factors such as muscle tone and bone structure also play a part in determining what a healthy weight looks like for each person. Muscle weighs more than fat, and you can be “big-boned” and therefore have a higher scale readout than someone who is slight of frame yet still considered to be a healthy weight.

A BMI of 40 or higher indicates that a person is morbidly obese. However, you can still have a BMI of 35 but when you have high blood pressure or diabetes as well, this puts you in a higher risk category despite the fact that your BMI is not terribly high.

Other signs that you may be veering into “unhealthy weight” territory are as follows:

You find that you’re getting winded more easily, for example when walking uphill or climbing stairs.

You’re having more trouble sleeping lately – this could be either from stomach upset due to late-night snacking, or it could be related to hormone imbalance that is related to being an unhealthy weight.

Your joints are starting to give you problems. Maybe you’re developing arthritis at a too-young age, or perhaps you’re starting to feel when it’s about to rain.

Your feet hurt from carrying the weight of your body. It’s more difficult to walk for extended periods of time.

You’re tired and cranky all the time.

Your blood pressure has gone up recently.