Dear Aunty Jane,
I am a 17 year old girl who is doing well in school, and quite happy. My only problem is that I am thin, unlike my friends who have big breasts, hips, and are curvy. Please, what can I do to put on more weight?
Alexia.
Dear Aunty Kemi,
My name is Paschal, and I am 16 years old. Please, I want you to advise me on what to do to get taller. I am too short, and I heard that girls don’t like short boys. Is there anything I can do?
Have you ever read these types of letters in the newspapers, especially on weekends? Are you a secret Alexia or Paschal who is unsatisfied with their weight or height? Well, before you write to another agony aunt, or do something you will regret, read this.
There are several factors that determine the average weight and height of a teenager. Gender, build, and age all factor into the equation. Because teens’ bodies are still developing, the average weight of a teenager can fluctuate quite a bit from one year to the next, finally stabilizing around 18-20 years of age.
This is because teens’ bodies are dramatically affected by puberty. How?
- Hormones will begin to transition the body’s structure. So, even while normal growth happens, a teen’s body will begin to look different. These changes may worry a teen, as they lose their straight and narrow childlike bodies. Often, actual height and weight really makes little difference.
- All teenagers also go through a period, lasting about two years, of rapid height growth. Before this occurs, the body may appear heavier. After the growth spurt, the body begins to elongate, even appearing too thin. For girls, this time of growth usually occurs in the pre-teens around 10 to 14 years. For boys, it is later, usually around 12 to 16 years old.
- A girl’s body fat percentage will naturally increase and a boy’s will decrease. Genetics play a large role in how this all pans out.
- Your doctor is in the best position to analyze your health, not a chart. While figuring out what the average weight at your age is can be helpful in helping to ward off health problems later in life, not everyone fits the mold.
| Age Range | Height | Weight | Percentile |
| 12-13 years | 1.3 – 1.6 m | 39 – 45 kg | 50% |
| 14-15 years | 1.6- 1.68m | 48 – 57 kg | 50% |
| 16-17 years | 1.7- 1.78m | 59 – 68 kg | 50% |
| 18-20 years | 1.72 – 1.78m | 68 – 73 kg | 50% |
| Age Range | Height | Weight | Percentile |
| 12-13 years | 1.52 -1.6m | 43- 48 kg | 50% |
| 14-15 years | 1.6 – 1.63m | 48 – 52 kg | 50% |
| 16-17 years | 1.63 m | 52 – 54kg | 50% |
| 18-20 years | 1.63m | 57- 59 kg | 50% |
Due to this, a more common measure of average healthy bodies is based on a formula known as the Body Mass Index or BMI = weight × height – weight ÷ the square of your height.
There’s no single ideal weight or height, and no perfect body. The right weight for one person might not be the right weight for another. It’s not about fat versus thin, it’s about what’s healthy. The information contained in the chart is based on averages for girls and boys in a particular age range. It is possible for individuals to weigh either more or less than what is listed in the above charts.
What is more important is eating a well-balanced diet, having an adequate exercise routine, developing good eating habits, including a variety of healthy meals and keeping higher fat foods as an occasional treat (when you have been a particularly good boy or girl). When you feel good, you look good, so focus on health more than numbers.
And that’s it.
See Also: Should I Care So Much About How I Look?
