a. How much weight do you have?
b. How heavy do you weight?
c. How many kilos are you heavy?
d. How heav… – Hoc24
For more than 600 years things with the words weigh and weight were neat and clean. The first was the verb, and the second was the related noun: you weigh something to get its weight.* This is still largely true.
But then in the mid-17th century weight started to wade into verb territory, carrying with it a specific meaning: “to oppress with a burden.”
Not that it was much of a burden to lexicographers. (We see this type of behavior all the time.)
This meaning of the verb weight is still one of its dominant meanings, found in such phrases as “weighted down with worry.” A less doleful meaning later developed: “to load or make heavy with or as if with a weight,” as in “a breezy room where papers must be weighted down to keep them from blowing away” or “a weighted blanket that’s supposed to help you relax.”
From the “oppress” and “make heavier” meanings, the verb weight went on to develop other uses popular in the more technical contexts of the language, not all of them pleasant. A substance that is increased in heaviness with the aid of an inferior ingredient, for example, is said to be weighted. But a camera lens made thicker is also weighted. In statistics, items in a frequency distribution are weighted when the relative frequency or importance of the items is made part of their value. In weighted grades, particular kinds of assignments are given more importance than others. And in an extension of those meanings, something that is arranged, biased, or inclined in a particular direction by manipulation is also said to be weighted, as in “a system weighted in favor of grammar enthusiasts.” And in a semantic behavior that can only be characterized as annoyingly typical in English, weight has historically also been used as a synonym of weigh. We’re happy to report that the use is rare—at least in published, edited text.
For the most part, we can keep weigh and weight straight by using weigh as a verb and weight as a noun, with a smattering of exceptions for statistics and grades and blankets. Our advice: take comfort where you can.
* Except it’s of course not true that everything was neat and clean: as the Oxford English Dictionary reports, weigh had from the start additional meanings, now obsolete, that had to with bearing and carrying and holding up; these meanings eventually led to the nautical meanings having to do with heaving up a ship’s anchor that are found in this dictionary. The main meanings of weigh and weight did, however, from the early days serve as complementary forms.
Many people wish to know the answer to this question: how much should I weigh? However, there is no single ideal weight for all individuals. Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more. Everybody is different, and various factors play a role in determining each person’s ideal weight. These factors can be biological, such as age, height, and natal sex, but mental factors can be just as important. An individual may define their ideal weight as the one with which they feel the most comfortable. However, maintaining a moderate weight can reduce a person’s risk of developing a number of health conditions, including: obesity
type 2 diabetes
high blood pressure
cardiovascular disease (CVD) However, not everyone with excess weight will develop health issues. However, researchers believe that while this extra weight might not currently affect health, difficulties in managing weight could lead to problems in the future. Read on to discover the different ways of working out a person’s ideal weight.
Body mass index (BMI) Share on Pinterest Attila Csomor/EyeEm/Getty Images BMI is a common tool that measures a person’s weight in relation to their height. A BMI calculation provides a single number, which falls into the following categories : A BMI of less than 18.5 means a person is underweight.
A BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9 is ideal.
A BMI of between 25 and 29.9 is overweight.
A BMI over 30 indicates obesity. Body mass index calculator To calculate BMI, a person can use BMI calculators or review the charts below. Weight and height guide chart The following weight and height chart uses BMI tables from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to determine how much a person’s weight should be for their height. Height Normal weight
BMI 19–24 Overweight
BMI 25–29 Obesity
BMI 30–39 Severe obesity
BMI 40+ 4 ft 10 in
(58 in) 91–115 lb 119–138 lb 143–186 lb 191–258 lb 4 ft 11 in
(59 in) 94–119 lb 124–143 lb 148–193 lb 198–267 lb 5ft
(60 in”) 97–123 lb 128–148 lb 153–199 lb 204–276 lb 5 ft 1 in
(61 in) 100–127 lb 132–153 lb 158–206 lb 211–285 lb 5 ft 2 in
(62 in) 104–131 lb 136–158 lb 164–213 lb 218–295 lb 5 ft 3 in
(63 in) 107–135 lb 141–163 lb 169–220 lb 225–304 lb 5 ft 4 in
(64 in) 110–140 lb 145–169 lb 174–227 lb 232–314 lb 5 ft 5 in
(65 in) 114–144 lb 150–174 lb 180–234 lb 240–324 lb 5 ft 6 in
(66 in) 118–148 lb 155–179 lb 186–241 lb 247–334 lb 5 ft 7 in
(67 in) 121–153 lb 159–185 lb 191–249 lb 255–344 lb 5 ft 8 in
(68 in) 125–158 lb 164–190 lb 197–256 lb 262–354 lb 5 ft 9 in
(69 in) 128–162 lb 169–196 lb 203–263 lb 270–365 lb 5 ft 10 in
(70 in) 132–167 lb 174–202 lb 209–271 lb 278–376 lb 5 ft 11 in
(71 in) 136–172 lb 179–208 lb 215–279 lb 286–386 lb 6 ft
(72 in) 140–177 lb 184–213 lb 221–287 lb 294–397 lb 6 ft 1 in
(73 in) 144–182 lb 189–219 lb 227–295 lb 302–408 lb 6 ft 2 in
(74 in) 148–186 lb 194–225 lb 233–303 lb 311–420 lb 6 ft 3 in
(75 in) 152–192 lb 200–232 lb 240–311 lb 319–431 lb 6 ft 4 in
(76 in) 156–197 lb 205–238 lb 246–320 lb 328–443 lb BMI based on age Age is not a factor in BMI for adults, but it is for children. This is because they are growing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) use both age and natal sex in its BMI calculations for people between the ages of 2–19 years. To calculate a child’s BMI, a person can use the CDC’s calculator for children and teenagers. The CDC’s BMI charts for children use percentiles that compare measurements with boys and girls of the same age and gender. What is the problem with BMI? BMI is a very simple measurement. While it takes height into consideration, it does not account for factors such as: waist or hip measurements
the proportion or distribution of fat
the proportion of muscle mass These factors can affect health. For example, high-performance athletes tend to be very fit and have little body fat. They can have a high BMI because they have more muscle mass, but this does not mean they weigh too much for their height. Another limitation of BMI is that it does not distinguish between people of different ethnicities. Studies have shown that at the same BMI, non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Black, and Mexican Americans may have significantly different levels of body fat. This inaccuracy may lead to a misdiagnosis or an incorrect assessment of risk factors between individuals. BMI can offer a rough idea of whether or not a person is at a moderate weight, and it is useful for measuring trends in population studies. However, it should not be the only measure for an individual to assess whether their weight is ideal. Learn more about the limitations of BMI.
Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) A person’s WHR compares their waist size with that of their hips. A high WHR indicates when an individual has higher levels of visceral fat, the fat in the abdominal cavity that surrounds several major organs. Research has shown that people with a high WHR are more likely to develop CVD and diabetes. The higher the waist measurement in proportion to the hips, the greater this risk. For this reason, the WHR is a useful tool for calculating whether a person has a moderate weight and size. Measuring WHR To calculate their WHR, a person should measure around their waist at the narrowest part, usually just above the belly button. They can then divide this measurement by the width of their hip at its widest part. For example, if a person’s waist is 28 inches, and their hips are 36 inches, they will divide 28 by 36, giving a WHR of 0.77. What does it mean? Optimal WHR differs between sex at birth and ethnicities, according to an older report from 2008 from the World Health Organization (WHO). Having a high WHR can put people at a higher risk of CVD and other conditions with links to increased weight, such as type 2 diabetes. The following are average values for WHRs and their associations with health risks. Health risk Male Female Low risk below 0.9 below 0.8 Moderate risk 0.9–0.99 0.8–0.89 High risk over 1.0 over 0.9 Studies have linked having a high WHR with an increased risk of developing myocardial infarctions, commonly known as heart attacks. However, as with BMI, the WHR does have limitations. For example, this measure does not measure a person’s total body fat percentage or their muscle-to-fat ratio accurately. To discover more evidence-based information and resources for obesity & weight management, visit our dedicated hub.
Waist-to-height ratio The waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) is another tool that might predict the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and overall mortality more effectively than BMI. Measuring WtHR To calculate WtHR, a person should divide their waist size by their height. If the result is 0.5 or less, they are likely to have a moderate weight. A 2014 study concluded that a WtHR of 0.52 or above significantly increases a person’s risk of developing heart complications. Measurements that take waist size into account can be suitable indicators of an individual’s health risks. This is because the fat that collects around the middle of the torso can be harmful to the heart, kidneys, and liver.
Body fat percentage Body fat percentage is the weight of a person’s fat divided by their total weight. This measurement includes both a person’s essential and stored fat. An individual needs essential fat to survive — it is critical for the development of the brain, bone marrow, nerves, and membranes. Storage fat is the fatty tissue that protects the internal organs in the chest and abdomen, and the body can use it if necessary for energy. Learn more about measuring body fat. Recommendations Apart from the approximate guidelines for males and females, the ideal total fat percentage can depend on a person’s body type or activity level. Activity level Male body type Female body type Athletes 6–13% 14–20% Fit non-athletes 14–17% 21–24% Acceptable 18–24% 25–31% Obesity 25% or more 32% or more Learn more about body fat levels by age and sex. A high proportion of body fat can indicate a greater risk of: diabetes
heart disease
high blood pressure
stroke Calculating body fat percentage may be a suitable way to measure a person’s fitness level because it reflects their body composition, unlike DMI, WHR, and WtHR. How to measure body fat The most common way of measuring body fat percentage is to use a skinfold measurement, which uses special calipers to pinch the skin. A health professional will measure tissue on the thigh, abdomen, and chest for males or upper arm for females. Other measures include hydrostatic body fat measuring, or “underwater weighing”
air densitometry, which measures air displacement
dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
bioelectrical impedance analysis While none of these can give an accurate reading, the estimates are close enough to offer a reasonable assessment. Learn more about the different ways to measure body fat.
Determining your body mass index
What is body mass index?
Determining how much you should weigh is not a simple matter of looking at a height-weight chart, but includes considering the amount of bone, muscle and fat in your body’s composition.
The amount of fat is the critical measurement. A good indicator of how much fat you carry is the body mass index (BMI). Although it is not a perfect measure, it gives a fairly accurate assessment of how much of your body is composed of fat.
How can I tell if I’m overweight?
Use the tool on this page to calculate your BMI. Having a BMI higher than 24.9 may mean you are overweight. Note that these are approximate values, and they are intended to be used only as a rough guide.
If you are worried about your BMI or are trying to lose weight, talk to your primary care doctor. You may also wish to contact the Rush Center for Weight Loss and Lifestyle Medicine, which offers individualized weight loss and wellness programs for people of all ages. You may also contact the Rush Nutrition and Wellness Center or the Rush University Prevention Center. These programs offer nutrition counseling and help with making lifestyle changes.
Doctors at Rush offer bariatric surgery for some people who are morbidly obese (those with a BMI of at least 40, or a BMI of at least 35 plus an obesity-related disease such as diabetes or high blood pressure).
Height and Weight Chart
Height Weight Normal Overweight Obese 4′ 10″ 91 to 118 lbs. 119 to 142 lbs. 143 to 186 lbs. 4′ 11″ 94 to 123 lbs. 124 to 147 lbs. 148 to 193 lbs. 5′ 97 to 127 lbs. 128 to 152 lbs. 153 to 199 lbs. 5′ 1″ 100 to 131 lbs. 132 to 157 lbs. 158 to 206 lbs. 5′ 2″ 104 to 135 lbs. 136 to 163 lbs. 164 to 213 lbs. 5′ 3″ 107 to 140 lbs. 141 to 168 lbs. 169 to 220 lbs. 5′ 4″ 110 to 144 lbs. 145 to 173 lbs. 174 to 227 lbs. 5′ 5″ 114 to 149 lbs. 150 to 179 lbs. 180 to 234 lbs. 5′ 6″ 118 to 154 lbs. 155 to 185 lbs. 186 to 241 lbs. 5′ 7″ 121 to 158 lbs. 159 to 190 lbs. 191 to 249 lbs. 5′ 8″ 125 to 163 lbs. 164 to 196 lbs. 197 to 256 lbs. 5′ 9″ 128 to 168 lbs. 169 to 202 lbs. 203 to 263 lbs. 5′ 10″ 132 to 173 lbs. 174 to 208 lbs. 209 to 271 lbs. 5′ 11″ 136 to 178 lbs. 179 to 214 lbs. 215 to 279 lbs. 6′ 140 to 183 lbs. 184 to 220 lbs. 221 to 287 lbs. 6′ 1″ 144 to 188 lbs. 189 to 226 lbs. 227 to 295 lbs. 6′ 2″ 148 to 193 lbs. 194 to 232 lbs. 233 to 303 lbs. 6′ 3″ 152 to 199 lbs. 200 to 239 lbs. 240 to 311 lbs. 6′ 4″ 156 to 204 lbs. 205 to 245 lbs. 246 to 320 lbs. BMI 19 to 24 25 to 29 30 to 39
Source: National Institutes of Health. Don’t see your weight? Learn more.