How much should you weigh?

Photo by Nelson Minar

I’ve been dieting for 41 years. I can safely say that I’ve never weighed the correct amount. And what is correct?

There are two popular sources for determining your correct weight, or perhaps more accurately stated, your healthy weight.

BMI – The Body Mass Index table uses a formula to calculate how much you should weigh depending on your height and gender. For the “average” adult this is a reasonable measure of ideal weight. The table also shows at which point you are considered overweight, obese and morbidly obese.

Insurance tables – These were first developed by Met Life in 1943. The tables are also based on height and gender, and also look at your frame size. The size of your frame is determined by the width of your elbow. The bigger your frame, the higher the average weight for your height.

The whimsically named “Happy Weight” chart from Self magazine uses a combination of these parameters. It uses a formula based on your height, a BMI of 22, your frame size (based on your wrist size), age, and a few questions about your parents and your lifestyle. It’s also only for women and perhaps lacks some of the scientific rigor of the BMI chart.

If I plug my measurements into each of these tools, I get roughly the same healthy weight suggestion. A l-o-o-o-n-g way from my current weight.

The best place to help determine your ideal weight is a visit to your doctor. Get weighed. Get your blood pressure measured. Get your cholesterol measured. Your doctor can provide guidance on what your healthy weight should be.

If you’re not at a healthy weight, the doctor can make suggestions on how to reach this weight. Of course, there’s always Dr. Google to help find articles on how to change your habits to reach your healthy weight. Just remember that if you make any changes, you should check with your doctor first especially if embarking on an exercise regimen or changes to what you eat.

Did I tell you I’m big boned?