What is the average skinny weight?
A weight under 100–110 pounds (50kg)
Women with a BMI of less than 18.5 are considered underweight. The average woman's height is 5 feet, 4 inches. If you weigh 107 pounds or less at this height, you are considered underweight with a BMI of 18.4. A healthy weight range for that woman would be 108 to 145 pounds.
Too Skinny: What BMI is Considered Underweight? From a clinical perspective, an individual is considered “too skinny” if they are deemed underweight. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an individual is underweight if their Body Mass Index (BMI) is below 18.5 [1].
BMI | Weight Status |
---|---|
Below 18.5 | Underweight |
18.5—24.9 | Healthy Weight |
25.0—29.9 | Overweight |
30.0 and Above | Obesity |
Below 18.5 | Underweight |
---|---|
18.5–24.9 | Healthy |
25–29.9 | Overweight |
30 and above | Obese |
Height | Weight | |
---|---|---|
5' 2" | 104 to 135 lbs. | 164 to 213 lbs. |
5' 3" | 107 to 140 lbs. | 169 to 220 lbs. |
5' 4" | 110 to 144 lbs. | 174 to 227 lbs. |
5' 5" | 114 to 149 lbs. | 180 to 234 lbs. |
Weighing too little can contribute to a weakened immune system, fragile bones and feeling tired. You can check if you're underweight by using our BMI healthy weight calculator, which shows your body mass index (BMI). If your BMI is below 18.5, this suggests that your weight may be too low.
Muscle is denser than fat, and as it is more compact within your body, as you gain muscle mass, you end up looking thinner, no matter your physical weight. So, if you've been doing a lot of strength training lately, it's likely this is the reason that you're looking fantastic but not dropping those numbers.
What should your waist measurement be? For men, a waist circumference below 94cm (37in) is 'low risk', 94–102cm (37-40in) is 'high risk' and more than 102cm (40in) is 'very high'. For women, below 80cm (31.5in) is low risk, 80–88cm (31.5-34.6in) is high risk and more than 88cm (34.6in) is very high.
Believe it or not, skinny people often do NOT possess the low body fat one might expect due to their low muscle mass in relationship to what body fat they do have. Lean people, on the other hand, possess a much higher amount of lean body mass (mostly muscle) coupled with a very low amount of body fat.
What is extremely skinny?
emaciated Add to list Share. Someone who is dangerously skinny and skeletal-looking can be described as emaciated.
below 18.5 – you're in the underweight range. between 18.5 and 24.9 – you're in the healthy weight range. between 25 and 29.9 – you're in the overweight range.

In adults, a healthy weight range is a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. If your BMI is under 18.5 then you would be considered underweight.
Being thin is not the same as being healthy, experts say. Avoid these common flubs when you're trying to lose weight. — -- In the ongoing war on obesity, health officials have consistently focused on Body Mass Index, or BMI, as a measure of weight appropriate to a certain height.
The overweight class has significantly greater proportions diagnosed with of angina, arthritis, and diabetes than the underweight. For all other measures of health (including general health, physical health, disability, and cancer) the health of the underweight class is significantly worse than that of the overweight.
A person with a BMI of 18.5–24.9 will be within the healthy range. According to guidelines, a person with a BMI of less than 18.5 is underweight and may need to gain weight for their health. However, in some cases, it is possible for an individual to have a low BMI but remain healthy.
Shorter-statured women should ideally weigh less than taller women. Whether or not you're too skinny is a matter of preference. However, women who are 5 feet tall and weigh 100 pounds are not classified as underweight, according to the University of Washington.
This is what might politely be called the chubby category, with body mass indexes (a measure of weight for height) of 25 to 30. A woman, for instance, who is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs between 146 and 175 pounds.
The BMI calculates height and weight to come up with a score that is indicative of a class of health risk. A score of 18.5 to 25 is typically considered a healthy BMI. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, while a BMI of 30 or greater is considered obese. An overweight status begins to constitute a health risk.
According to the standards of body mass index, the answer likely is yes. The bottom line: BMI results can be startling. For a 5-foot-6 male, a weight over 150 pounds is considered overweight and higher than 185 pounds is obese. For a 6-footer, 185 pounds is overweight and 225 is obese.
What should a 5 0 foot girl weigh?
Male | Female | |
---|---|---|
Height | Ideal Weight | Ideal Weight |
4′ 11″ | 90 – 110 lbs. | 86 – 105 lbs. |
5′ 0″ | 95 – 117 lbs. | 90 – 110 lbs. |
5′ 1″ | 101 – 123 lbs. | 95 – 116 lbs. |
Height | Normal weight BMI 19–24 | Overweight BMI 25–29 |
---|---|---|
5 ft 4 in (64 in) | 110–140 lb | 145–169 lb |
5 ft 5 in (65 in) | 114–144 lb | 150–174 lb |
5 ft 6 in (66 in) | 118–148 lb | 155–179 lb |
5 ft 7 in (67 in) | 121–153 lb | 159–185 lb |
The average American woman 20 years old and up weighs 170.6 pounds and stands at 63.7 inches (almost 5 feet, 4 inches) tall. And the average waist circumference? It's 38.6 inches.
Women usually gain weight until age 65, and then begin to lose weight. Weight loss later in life occurs partly because fat replaces lean muscle tissue, and fat weighs less than muscle. Diet and exercise habits can play a large role in a person's weight changes over their lifetime.
For lots of people, the motivation to become or remain thin is to be attractive, but thin and fit are not the same thing. That's why a weight-loss program that's geared toward shedding pounds and not increasing exercise or eating healthy food might help you lose weight, but it may not improve your overall health.
“Skinny fat” simply describes a state in which someone has too little muscle mass and too much body fat. People who are skinny fat often look normal or even skinny when wearing clothes, but look soft, weak, and flabby underneath.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute indicates that a healthy weight for a woman who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall ranges from 110 to 140 pounds with a BMI of 19 to 24. A woman whose BMI score is above 25 falls in the overweight category and 30 and above falls in the obesity category.
“As a person's weight increases above the average, so too does the likelihood that their prior experience involves smaller bodies. Because the brain combines our past and present experiences, it creates an illusion whereby we appear thinner than we actually are.”
How much visceral fat is normal? The normal visceral fat range should be about 10% of your body fat. You can figure out your visceral fat level by calculating your total body fat percentage and then taking off 10%. If your body fat percentage is higher than recommended, then your visceral fat range will be too.
The smallest waist of a person with normal stature was 33 cm (13 in) and was recorded on Ethel Granger (UK) (1905–82). She reduced from a natural 56 cm (22 in) to 33 cm (13 in) over the period 1929–39.
What waist size is attractive?
What size waist is attractive? Previous studies have found that women with a waist-to-hip ratio of . 60 to . 70 are more consistently rated as highly attractive by men.
The specific proportions of 36–24–36 inches (90-60-90 centimeters) have frequently been given as the "ideal", or "hourglass" proportions for women since at least the 1960s (these measurements are, for example, the title of a hit instrumental by The Shadows).
If your flexed biceps measure less than 13.3″ in circumference, that's a good sign that your muscles are smaller than average, and so you could be considered skinny.
Some studies have suggested it's better to be thin rather than active. In one such study, women who were thin yet inactive had a lower chance for early death than those who had obesity and were active. However, in patients with heart disease, being physically active, was more beneficial than having a low BMI.
Numerous research studies have shown that stronger men and women, young and old who are overweight, or even obese, can have better all-cause mortality outcomes than those who are lean and weak.
“Skinny fat” is a term that refers to having a relatively high percentage of body fat and a low amount of muscle mass, despite having a “normal” BMI. People of this body composition may be at a heightened risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.
Some common synonyms of skinny are gaunt, lanky, lank, lean, rawboned, scrawny, and spare.
'Thin' is often used in a negative way: She's very pretty but she's too thin. Skinny, a slightly informal word, means very much the same: I don't like his looks – he's too skinny. Even thinner than 'skinny' is scrawny (also a slightly informal word).
Age (years) | Lower percentile weight (lbs) | “Average” percentile weight (lbs) |
---|---|---|
14–15 | 85–95 or less | 90–141 |
15–16 | 95–104 or less | 100–152 |
16–17 | 104–112 or less | 110–160 |
17–18 | 112–117 or less | 117–166 |
People who are just skinny show their ribs because they don't have muscle all around them from chest to waist. Very low body fat is good but staying healthy with a good routine will hide your ribs when they are showing it means that you are skinny and not necessarily healthy.
Can you be underweight but healthy?
Many underweight people are physically healthy. Low body weight is due to a variety of causes, including: Genetics. If you've been thin since high school and it runs in your family, it's likely that you were born with a higher-than-usual metabolism.
Low Body Weight
The Academy of Eating Disorders recommends inpatient treatment for anyone at or below 75% of their ideal body weight. This is a general suggestion for medical professionals, not a hard and fast rule.
In the end, “skinny fat” is still fat, and excess body fat is dangerous to your health. You, your family and your healthcare providers should take this seriously to avoid the risks that accompany these unhealthy habits.
Yes, skinny fat is a real, remarkably common phenomenon and can be deadly even. It describes lean individuals (BMI < 25kg/m2) with a dangerously high percentage of body fat compared to lean muscle mass.
In short, your weight (and BMI) does matter — but only as part of your overall personal evaluation. It's not the only factor. And like most measures of health, BMI is not perfect. For example, results can be thrown off if you have a higher muscle mass, greater bone density or are pregnant.
A: The short answer is yes — it's possible for you to be both fit and overweight, even obese. What's really important to understand is what “fit” means and what “overweight” means relative to your health.
Through anonymous survey responses, the researchers found that 81% of models possess a Body Mass Index, or BMI, that would be classified as underweight. Most models reported being underweight, and many turn to unhealthy methods to keep the pounds away, researchers found.
5. Aging and Weight. Being too thin or too heavy can add to the aging process. Being underweight reduces the natural fats in the facial structure which allows the skin to sag and adds to the appearance of wrinkles.
Women with a BMI of less than 18.5 are considered underweight. The average woman's height is 5 feet, 4 inches. If you weigh 107 pounds or less at this height, you are considered underweight with a BMI of 18.4. A healthy weight range for that woman would be 108 to 145 pounds.
Average Skinny Girl Weight And Height
Clinically underweight or dangerously skinny for the average woman: A BMI of 15, 16, 17, 18. A weight under 100–110 pounds (50kg)
What weight is too low?
If your BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the underweight range.
(27) found that the most frequently selected ideal body had a BMI of 19.79, closely followed by an underweight ideal of 18.26. Ahern et al. (28) found that a BMI of 20 was considered the most attractive, while Swami et al. (29), and MacNeill and Best (30), found that an underweight body was most frequently selected.
Height | Weight | |
---|---|---|
5' 2" | 104 to 135 lbs. | 136 to 163 lbs. |
5' 3" | 107 to 140 lbs. | 141 to 168 lbs. |
5' 4" | 110 to 144 lbs. | 145 to 173 lbs. |
5' 5" | 114 to 149 lbs. | 150 to 179 lbs. |
Below 18.5 | Underweight |
---|---|
18.5–24.9 | Healthy |
25–29.9 | Overweight |
30 and above | Obese |
Is a size 10 fat? It completely depends on the woman's height. In standard women's clothing sizes, Size 10 is considered “Medium”. A woman who is 4′ 10″ or less and wears size 10 Petite clothing would likely be considered overweight.
Is a size 8 fat? If you are asking if a woman who wears a size 8 is “fat” your answer is a resounding NO. Plus sizes begin at size 14 (generally speaking) and even then, a 6′ tall woman wearing a size 14 is typically not super large.
If your BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the underweight range. If your BMI is 18.5 to <25, it falls within the healthy weight range. If your BMI is 25.0 to <30, it falls within the overweight range. If your BMI is 30.0 or higher, it falls within the obesity range.
At 5 feet 4 inches, wearing 1-inch heels, and fully clothed, whats classified as a healthy weight can range from around 115 to 150 pounds, depending upon your frame.
At 170 pounds this person has a BMI of 40 and is considered obese. Someone 6 feet tall and 180 pounds would have a BMI of 24.4 and would be obese at 230 pounds. The National Institutes of Health has a BMI calculator online here.
Age (years) | Lower percentile weight (lbs) | “Average” percentile weight (lbs) |
---|---|---|
14–15 | 85–95 or less | 90–141 |
15–16 | 95–104 or less | 100–152 |
16–17 | 104–112 or less | 110–160 |
17–18 | 112–117 or less | 117–166 |
How much should a 14 year old weigh?
Male | Female | |
---|---|---|
5' 0" | 95 - 117 lbs. | 90 - 110 lbs. |
5' 1" | 101 - 123 lbs. | 95 - 116 lbs. |
5' 2" | 106 - 130 lbs. | 99 - 121 lbs. |
5' 3" | 112 - 136 lbs. | 104 - 127 lbs. |
I have always believed that a good, healthy body can come in many shapes and sizes.” Fat, fit people tend to be better off healthwise than thin people who are unfit, Gaesser said, suggesting that being fit is far more important than being thin.
A teen who is overweight has a BMI between the 85th and 95th percentile for age and gender. They are obese if the BMI is greater than the 95th percentile for age and gender.
- 4 ft 10 in. (58 in) 91–115 lb. 119–138 lb. ...
- 4 ft 11 in. (59 in) 94–119 lb. 124–143 lb. ...
- 5 ft 1 in. (61 in) 100–127 lb. 132–153 lb. ...
- 5 ft 2 in. (62 in) 104–131 lb. 136–158 lb. ...
- 5 ft 3 in. (63 in) 107–135 lb. 141–163 lb. ...
- 5 ft 4 in. (64 in) 110–140 lb. ...
- 5 ft 5 in. (65 in) 114–144 lb. ...
- 5 ft 6 in. (66 in) 118–148 lb.
The weight range for 13-year-old girls is between 76 and 148 pounds. Weights in the 50th percentile for this age land at 101 pounds. A weight in the 50th percentile means that of 100 13-year-old girls, 50 will weigh more while 50 will weigh less, and so on.
Normal/healthy weight: 18.5 to 24.9. Overweight: 25.0 to 29.9.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute indicates that a healthy weight for a woman who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall ranges from 110 to 140 pounds with a BMI of 19 to 24. A woman whose BMI score is above 25 falls in the overweight category and 30 and above falls in the obesity category.