To run fast, it helps to be light. It’s just a fact that less energy is needed to move less weight. I’m a joggler who weighs in at 195 lbs. That’s not bad at my height (6’1″) but it’s not good if I want to be the fastest marathon joggler in the world. But how do you know what you should weigh?This question was asked in a recent Runner’s World magazine and here’s what they said.
- BMI: This is the Body Mass Index and it calculates the weight that you should be based on your height. Runner’s World was kind enough to create an online calculator that makes your BMI easy to figure out. I put in my numbers and voila! I’M OVERWEIGHT! My BMI is 25.7 and according to them anything over 25 is overweight. So much for all this running. Guess I should cut down on the McDonalds ice cream cones.
.
Of course they say BMIs of muscular people tend to be high and it will sometimes put them in the overweight category when they shouldn’t be. That must be it.
. - Height-weight tables: Someone, somewhere put together these tables that list the population’s weight/height ratio and how it effects their lifespan. Here’s a resource I found that lists some. Looks like according to Met Life I’m overweight.
. - Waist to hip ratio: If your waist is too wide relative to your hips then that increases your risk for all kinds of health problems (heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure). Your ratio should be less than 0.95 (for a man) or 0.80 for a woman. To figure yours out simply run a tape measure around your waist and then around your hips. Divide the waist number by the hip number to get the ratio.
.
So I did it for mine and I clock in at 34″ waist and a 36.5″ hip. That’s a ratio of 0.93. Finally, something that tells me I’m not overweight.
I don’t really put too much stock in these measurements since I think only you know when you are overweight. I’d like to lose a few just because I want to run faster. But it’s a little known fact, training for a marathon will not necessarily lead to you losing any weight. There’s only one magic formula for that…Increase exercise, decrease food.
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
I know what you mean…
I’m only 5’5″ , but I currently weigh 147 lbs making my BMI 24.4
That makes me overweight by at least 7 lbs. Of course, I eat like a pig too. But also, some of the meds I take for my breathing cause weight gain, mostly from fluid retention.
My weight fluctuates constantly, but I definitely walk ( and breath ) better when my weight is down.
Thanks for the handy calculators.
Steve,
I don’t have much faith in these “weight formulas”. Although, it does bug me that someone in the world considers me overweight. Yes, I eat pretty much anything I want but I run all the time.
You can deny yourself that doughnut or brownie and you may even lose some weight. But there is no proof that losing weight leads to a longer life. In fact, being a little overweight in your 60s is an advantage because older people have a harder time keeping the weight on.
But there is no denying it, in general skinny people run faster than bigger people. I guess I’ll have to get smaller to get faster.
I’m 15 years old, about 5’4 in height, and I weight 115 pounds. Even though I weigh so little, I have an inch or so of fat on my tummy that covers a six pack (you can feel it if you poke my stomach). I exercise every day for at least 30 min (I don’t have much more time than that…) and eat pretty healthily, but my bone structure is so tiny, that I can hardly carry any weight. Would you say I’m overweight, and how can I lose my tummy?
Hello Curvy,
According to the BMI calculator your weight is on the low side of Normal. So you are absolutely NOT overweight. Here are the ranges. You scored a 19.7.
BMI Weight Status
Below 18.5 Under Weight
18.5 – 24.9 Normal
25.0 – 29.9 Overweight
30.0 and above Obese
There is very little you can do to target specific areas to lose weight. The human body doesn’t work that way. On some level you are just how you are. Having said that, you could try to make yourself fitter so the food that you eat is more efficiently burned. Look over at Runner’s World.com for some tips. But basically, make sure you’re doing some anerobic exercises like sprints a couple of times a week. Good luck.
I am a 14 year old girl. I am skinny but at the same time very strong for my age. I am 5’3. I weigh 130 pounds but I can do 35 push ups and I have beaten almost all the guys in my grade at arm wrestling. I excel in most of my fitness areas but I don’t think I am doing too hot with my sit ups. In gym class we had a sit up test and I could only do 128. Is that still heathy. What is the average number of sit ups for my age and what should I do to get a six pack?
Sorry I meant to say that I could only do 28 sit ups.
I am a 16 year old guy 5’8 and weigh 140.
It says that my BMI is average but i have fata round my stomach!! yet everything else is small.
What can i do to make my body equal out so that my stomach is small like everything else?
Ashley, when I was your age I could do almost 100 situps. I think a good target for you would be 60.
Jim, since your BMI is right where it should be there is little you can do in the way of weight loss. You don’t want to get skinnier. What you should probably do is to try to make your arms and upper body bigger by starting a weight lifting program. If your topside is bigger, it will offset a bigger bottom side.
Ahhh, well my BMI is where it should be, but my body says different. HAHA
Is running an effective way to shed the body fat that i have?
Or is weight training really what i need to be doing.
my topsides isnt really bigger, it just has more fat
OH and thank you for your help!
if i become a famous bodybuilder or runner or something ill thank you:)
k so im 16, im 5’7 and im 180.. i feel disgustingly overweight.. should i go to the doctors? get some pills? drink more water? like what do i do?!
I im 14 and i feel that i could lose a couple of pounds and it wont hurt. i would like to have abs and strong arms! i am in shape with running and excercising.
and i try to eat healthy! help me!
hi i’m 13 and i weigh 103 pounds and i’m 4’11 is that too much for my height?
hi i’m 13 and i weigh 103 pounds and i’m 4’11 is that too much for my height?
Kayla, you are at an excellent weight for your height. Keep exercising and if you’re not, you should be getting at least 15 minutes a day. Juggling is a great way to do that.
Ariela, at this point in your life you shouldn’t worry much about your weight unless you are obese. Your body will be changing soon and it won’t be until you’re in your 20s that you can start “shaping” yourself. Keep exercising. Running is a great thing to do, 5 days a week if you can. On the other days, you should juggle.
Jim, running is one of the best ways to lose fat. Other great exercises for losing fat include jumping rope and joggling of course.
Monica, don’t start taking pills. There’s nothing that works. I’d suggest you start keeping track of everything you eat and see if that motivates you to cut down on your calories. And also start exercising. You should do about 30 minutes a day. Start simply with walking (and juggling if you can). You’ll start to feel better and lose weight. If you don’t start losing then go see a doctor.
There are no magic diet pills that work.
iam a guy who is so anxious about my height,i want to know what i should do to increase in height,the kind of excerise and thing i need to know,pls i will like you to mail me to my email box to give me the info’s on moneysmith_2009@yahoo.com or jamessmallz@hotmail.com,pls i will wait for a reply soonest.
thanks.
i dont know if jogging helps in increasing in height,pls i want to know if it does
i want to know if i am overweight. i think i’m just right, but i want to ask an expert so i know for sure. i am 6 feet, 11 inches, and i weigh about 90 pounds. am i overweight?
i await your response,
sasha
im 5’3.5/5’4 and i wiegh 121 should i lose wieght??
my bmi is 14.something
im 14, 5’6 and 135 pounds… i dont think im fat, am i close to being overweight?
I’m 14 years old. I am 5’7 and weight 156 lbs. I know I am overweight but I want to lose weight at some time. I tried a personal trainer but all he did was make me stronger. and wider. It didnt show, just made me look chubby. I was never really nervous to talk about my weight. But I would like to have a better chance with girls, because how can a girl not care about looks? And if they dont, why would they want to talk to the fat kid?
I guess since my BMI is 24.4 I am soon to be overweight, and I dont want to be. SO If you can, please help.
hey my name is karla and i am 5’6 and i weigh 202.. how can i lose weight fast??
BMIs should come with warnings. Those who are very muscular and short will register as overweight on the BMI. If you pick a linebacker and calculate his BMI, he will be morbidly obese. So, Perry, don’t you fret about your BMI. I’m a runner and being Asian, I’m short (again, this BMI is not culturally adjusted) and muscular, and you guessed it, I’m obese, according to my BMI. But my friends and colleagues will never consider me obese, fit, yes, but never fat.
Another a informative great post by you hope to read more very soon.
You you should edit the blog name How do you know if you should lose weight? to something more suited for your blog post you write. I liked the post yet.
I’m 5’2″ and weigh 170 and 18 years old. My BMI says I’m obese, but I look nothing close to how I feel, and look. I’m very active, I bike everyday for hours (with my boyfriend), and dance in my room. I also don’t even eat as much as most people think (just lots of fruit and vegetables). I do NOT look obese to any of my friends. I told them I was 170 and they thought I was 135. What the am I supposed to do?
oh and btw im not muscular in any way lol
Hi my name is Valerie I’m 13 years old I’m 5’3 I’m close to going to 5’4 and I weigh 115 am I overweight????? My figure is very curvey I have curves on my waist and I have curves on my legs my mom says it runs in the family and everytime I am hungry and I eat I always ask my mom if I will get fat I’m always careful of what I eat I used to love junk food but I stopped eating it I haven’t eaten it in 3 years and I’m very proud of myself and I don’t drink soda either I eliminated those things from my health so all I want to know is if I’m fat. BTW everybody says i should b a model Bcuz I’m tall and skinny? But idk if I am skinny I want to c it from another persons point of view
plz reply
hi im 5″4 propbaly 5″5 but i weigh 121 but i have musculs and im 12 am i over weight and if so any tips to keep me thin i scared for my life for being fat never was and dont wanna be
you’re not a doctor. you shouldn’t be giving these people this advice. i think it’s wrong. no two bodies are alike, and just because you can run a marathon does not make you a healthy person. we need to eliminate this mindset that x equals healthy and y does not, because it is oversimplified and does not account for the countless variables that add up to a person’s health. i think the problem is that thin people are associated with not only health, but also good looks, so everyone feels they need to be like that. that has nothing to do with good health (for the record, i’m not a bitter fat person…i just think it’s ridiculous how much the internet encourages eating disorders)
You obviously didn’t read the post. Fat people can be perfectly healthy. Weight and health are not related.
I am 12 and I am 114 pounds but I want to lose weight because I think I am fat how do I look weight and weight at least 99 pounds
12 years old is too young to be thinking about weight. Focus on being a kid and eating fruits and vegetables.
I also am the fastest runner in my gym class but I think I’m to fat
I’m 4’11 to
{ 5 trackbacks }