Ideal Body Weight

For example, a 5'5" man or woman should weigh between 114 and 150 pounds.

 Variables include your age, gender, body shape, and location of body fat. Talk to your health-care providers about the best weight for you.

People who are apple-shaped, who put on fat around the upper body, waist, and abdomen, tend to have more health problems than those who are pear-shaped and put on fat on the lower body, hips, and thighs.

Health problems associated with apple shapes include insulin resistance, higher blood cholesterol, a tendency toward heart and blood-vessel disease, and high blood pressure.

To determine your body shape (waist-to-hip ratio):
1. Measure around your waist, or one inch above your navel.

2. Measure your hips at the biggest point.

3.  Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement.

For a woman, a ratio greater than 0.8 is an apple shape; a ratio of less than 0.8 is a pear. For a man, a ratio greater than 1.0 is an apple, and a ratio of less than 1.0 is a pear.