The issue of what the right weight is for a specified height has been the topic of discussion among health care providers, and those conscious of their health. It is not uncommon to have people ask if they are underweight, overweight, or just fine. Let’s cut out the noise, and focus on some factors to consider for determining the right weight range.
1. Height
How tall a teenager is plays a role in how much he or she should weigh. A 5 ft tall (1.54 m) teen’s ideal weight will obviously be much less than a teen who is 5ft 7in (1.74 m ) tall. Age also matters, as many teens keep growing until they are 18 or 19. It is important that rather than obsessing about weight, a teen should endeavour to get the nutrients needed to continue growing and keep bones strong and healthy.
2. Bone Structure
Does the teen have small bones or large bones? Males have a larger skeletal frame than females; hence, they will often weigh more but still be in their ideal weight range. In addition, some people have larger frames than others. A person with larger bones will weigh more even though he might be quite thin already.
3. Muscle
Muscle weighs more than fat. An athletic teen or one that has more muscle may weigh more, but still be healthy and within an ideal weight range. That is why, when determining ideal weight, most doctors also take into account body fat percentages and look at the Body Mass Index (BMI) of the teen.
4. Medical Weight Charts
Medical weight charts are a good starting point for determing ideal weight. According to DocShop.com, a teen who is 5ft 4in (1.65 m ) and has a medium frame should weigh between 124 and 138 pounds (that is, between 56 and 63kg). However, this can vary based on other factors, so a weight chart should only be used as a starting point when determining how much a teen should weigh.
What Does the Doctor Say?
The family doctor is a good source for information on the ideal weight for a teen or any other member of the family. The doctor can help determine factors such as bone size, muscles, body fat and height and decide if the teen is in a healthy range or needs to gain or lose weight based on many different factors, including the most up to the minute research and information available.
Because of what today’s media promote as the ideal weight or look; some teens try to reflect the image of super thin, tall models, many of whom are underweight, thus setting themselves up for unrealistic expectations and developing eating issues that can be detrimental to good health, and even fatal.
Just to show how unhealthy such looks are, recently, the French government passed a law that requires models who want to work in France to provide a doctor’s report that they are healthy!
Teens who want to lose weight should know that a range of numbers usually work best. For example, the doctor might suggest the teen hit a maximum weight of 138 pounds (63kg) based on a height of 5ft 4in (1.65m), and a minimum of 124 pounds (56kg). It is important that the lowest number be set as well as a maximum to protect the teen from developing an eating disorder.
Once a goal weight has been set, it is also important to follow a healthy diet plan and not starvation! Healthy plans include plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and lean protein. Cutting out sweets, soft drinks, processed foods and white bread is also a healthy choice.