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What is The Standard Height and Weight For Men? According to Experts
How much does the average American man weigh?
Trusted Source: The average American man over 20 years old weighs 197.9 pounds. The average waist circumference is 40.2 inches, and the average height is just over 5 feet 9 inches (about 69.1 inches).
The average weights of American men, based on their age, are as follows:
| Age group (Years) | Average weight (Pounds) |
| 20–39 | 196.9 |
| 40–59 | 200.9 |
| 60 and older | 194.7 |
American men are getting taller and heavier as time goes on. In the 1960s, the average man was 166.3 pounds and 68.3 inches tall, which is just over 5 feet 8 inches.
American women also say that their height and weight have grown over time.
In the 1960s, the average woman was 140.2 pounds and 63.1 inches tall, according to Trusted Source. In contrast, the average American woman today weighs 170.6 pounds, has a waist circumference of 38.6 inches, and is just under 5 feet 4 inches tall (about 63.7 inches).
Here’s more about why this is happening and what you can do to keep your weight in a healthy range for your height.
How do Americans compare to the rest of the world?
People in the United States and North America as a whole weigh more on average than people in any other part of the world.
The following average weights by region were reported by BMC Public Health in 2012. The averages were figured out using data from 2005 and a mix of men’s and women’s statistics:
- North America: 177.9 pounds
- Oceania, including Australia: 163.4 pounds
- Europe: 156.1 pounds
- Latin America/Caribbean: 149.7 pounds
- Africa: 133.8 pounds
- Asia: 127.2 pounds
The world average for an adult’s weight is 136.7 pounds.
How are weight ranges determined?
It’s easy to find out what the average weight is, but it’s harder to figure out what a healthy or ideal weight is.
The body mass index is one of the most common ways to do this (BMI). BMI is based on a formula that takes your height and weight into account.
To figure out your BMI, you need to divide your weight in pounds by the square of your height in inches. Times that number by 703. You can also put this information into a calculator that you can find online. Known Source.
Check out the information below to find out if your BMI is normal or if it falls into another group:
- Underweight: anything under 18.5
- Healthy: anything between 18.5 and 24.9
- Overweight: anything between 25 and 29.9
- Obese: anything above 30
Even though BMI doesn’t measure body fat directly, its results are pretty close to the results of other methods of measuring body fat.
Some of these techniques are:
- skinfold thickness measurements
- densitometry, which compares weights taken in air with weights taken underwater
- bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), which uses a scale that incorporates electrodes; more electrical resistance is associated with more body fat
What’s the relationship between height and weight?
The BMI isn’t always the best way to tell if your weight is healthy or in the normal range.
For example, a person who is the same height but not an athlete may weigh more than a person who is not an athlete but is in much better shape. This is because muscle is more dense than fat, which makes you weigh more.
Gender is also something to think about. Most of the time, women store more fat than men. In the same way, older adults who are the same height as younger adults tend to have more body fat and less muscle mass.
Consider the following table if you want a good idea of what your ideal weight should be for your height:
| Height in feet and inches | Healthy weight in pounds |
| 4’10” | 88.5–119.2 |
| 4’11” | 91.6–123.3 |
| 5′ | 94.7–127.5 |
| 5’1″ | 97.9–131.8 |
| 5’2″ | 101.2–136.2 |
| 5’3″ | 104.5–140.6 |
| 5’4″ | 107.8–145.1 |
| 5’5″ | 111.2–149.7 |
| 5’6″ | 114.6–154.3 |
| 5’7″ | 118.1–159 |
| 5’8″ | 121.7–163.8 |
| 5’9″ | 125.3–168.6 |
| 5’10” | 129–173.6 |
| 5’11” | 132.7–178.6 |
| 6′ | 136.4–183.6 |
| 6’1″ | 140.2–188.8 |
| 6’2″ | 144.1–194 |
| 6’3″ | 148–199.2 |
What are some other ways to determine your body composition?
One of the main problems with BMI is that it doesn’t take into account how a person’s body is made up. Even if they are the same height, a skinny man and a man with broad shoulders can have very different weights and still be fit.
You can get a better idea of whether or not you’re at a healthy weight by using other measurements.
Waist-to-hip ratio
One of these is the ratio of the waist to the hips. The waist-to-hip ratio is important because carrying extra weight around your middle makes you more likely to get heart disease and type 2 diabetes, among other health problems.
Your natural waist (right above your belly button) and the widest part of your hips and buttocks will be measured.
In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that a man’s waist-to-hip ratio should be no more than 0.90 and a woman’s should be no more than 0.85. Men and women are both at high risk for health problems when their ratios are 1.0 or 0.90.
Even though the waist-to-hip ratio is useful in general, not everyone should use it. Some people, like kids and people with a BMI over 35, may find that other ways of figuring out how fit they are are more accurate.
Body fat percentage
You can figure out your body fat percentage in a number of ways, such as by measuring the thickness of a skinfold or using densitometry. These kinds of tests might be able to be done by your doctor or a personal trainer.
Online calculators can also figure out your body fat percentage based on things like your height, weight, and wrist circumference.
The American Council on Exercise (ACE), a group for fitness professionals, divides men’s body fat percentage into four groups:
| Classification | Body fat percentage (%) |
| Athletes | 6–13 |
| Fitness | 14–17 |
| Acceptable/Average | 18–24 |
| Obese | 25 and up |
How can you manage your weight?
Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent a range of problems, such as:
- heart disease
- type 2 diabetes
- arthritis
If you need to drop a few pounds to get to your ideal weight, here are some key steps to help get you there:
Set realistic weight loss goals
Instead of focusing on a large, big-picture goal, aim for a small goal. For example, instead of being set on losing 50 pounds this year, aim for losing a pound a week.
Follow a healthy diet
Your diet should focus mainly on the following foods:
- fruits
- vegetables
- whole grains
- low-fat or nonfat dairy
- lean proteins
- nuts and seeds
Limit your consumption of added sugars, alcohol, and saturated fats.
Pay attention to portion sizes
Try halving your usual mealtime servings. On Saturday nights, instead of two slices of pizza, have one and some salad. A food journal might help you keep track of what and how much you consume.
Exercise daily
Aim for 30 to 40 minutes of exercise every day, or at least 150 minutes per week. Cardio, strength training, and flexibility exercises should all be part of your fitness routine. You can also work out with a buddy or family member to get you up and moving.
What’s the takeaway?
Although 69.1 inches tall and 197.9 pounds may be “normal” for an American male, it also shows a BMI of 29.1 — at the high end of the “overweight” category. In the United States, average does not automatically imply excellent.
Keep in mind that there are numerous methods and calculations used to establish appropriate weight in relation to height. They are all flawed in some way. You may be the ideal weight for your huge body, even though another metric labels you as overweight.
A healthy weight may not automatically imply good health. You can have a normal BMI but still be at risk for heart disease and other underlying diseases if you smoke and don’t exercise or eat properly.
Consult your doctor if you are concerned about your health.
They can assist you in determining where your weight sits on the continuum and how this may affect your overall health. They can help you determine a good goal weight and work with you on techniques to get there if necessary.
