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Is the average weight for a 5’8 male and female healthy?

Is the average weight for a 5’8 male and female healthy?

If you want to know how much a 5’8 male and a 5’8 female are supposed to weigh, then check out the answer below so that you can see how you stack up.

We’ll also discuss the ideal BMI for a 5’8 female and a 5’8 male, as well as some tactics for maintaining a healthy body weight at the height of 5 feet 8 inches.

Related Weight Articles:

What is the average weight for a 5’8 male?

A man showing that he has the ideal weight for a 5'8 male

What is the average weight for a 5’8 male? The average weight for a 5’8 male living in the US is just under 200 lbs or 90 kilograms.

This is the normal weight for a 5’8 male. But is this body weight actually healthy?

At the height of 5 foot 8, probably not. You see, it’s possible to be slightly overweight and healthy if you have plenty of muscle mass and relatively little body fat.

But let’s face it; the average 5’8 200 lb guy probably has the opposite body type; large amounts of body fat and comparatively less muscle mass.

And anyway, such a high body weight is excessive for a man who’s only 5 feet 8 inches tall.

Related: Average weight for men

How much should a 5’8 female weigh?

A woman with a rather average weight for a 5'8 female

To have a normal BMI, a 5’8 female should weigh between 123 lbs and 164 lbs.

But this isn’t the same as the normal weight for a 5’8 female. So, what is the average weight for a 5’8 female? The average weight for a 5’8 woman living in the US is likely around 180 lbs or just over 81 kilograms.

To clarify, there’s no research that specifically weighs 5’8 women by themselves, but there is data that looks at female weight in general.

Based on the body weights of over 5,000 US women, the average weight was found to be around 170 lbs or 77 kilos.

Knowing that the average woman is 5’4, we can safely assume that the average 5’8 woman weighs in excess of this average (hence the 180 lb estimate) due to having a larger body frame and thus more bone space to store both muscle mass and fat tissue.

Related: Average female weight

What is a healthy weight for a 5’8 female and a 5’8 male?

A woman checking if she has a healthy weight for a 5'8 female

Based purely on BMI, a healthy weight for a 5’8 male and a 5’8 female is between 123 pounds and 164 pounds.

Now, as you may know, health isn’t measured by the number on your weighing scale, and BMI is just a screening tool.

With this in mind, you can definitely weigh more than 164 lbs at the height of 5’8 and still be perfectly healthy. This is especially true if you have a relatively lean physique (you don’t need to be ripped, though).

So, ultimately, without factoring in your body composition, we can’t say for certain how much a 5’8 man or woman should weigh in order to be healthy.

Still, if optimal health is your main goal, you probably don’t want to have a particularly high BMI.

Related:

How can a 5’8 person maintain their ideal weight?

Nutritious foods laid out on a table, including fish, meat, dairy, nuts, and beans

While some people have an easier time staying slim than others, just about anyone can maintain their ideal weight if they eat healthily and get the recommended amount of exercise (around 60 minutes per day).

Try not to eat junk food, as these greasy, calorie-loaded meals can massively increase your energy intake and lead to weight gain, especially when accompanied by a lack of exercise. 

A common misconception is that, in order to obtain the ideal weight for a 5’8 male or a 5’8 female, you need to push yourself to your physical limits in the gym. 

This just isn’t true.

Sure, vigorous workouts will burn more calories and may produce superior results from a physique perspective. But as I’m fond of saying, the best workouts for you are the ones that you enjoy and can stick to.

So if you don’t like running (join the club), go for a nice walk instead. If you’re intimidated by the weight room, do bodyweight training at home. You get the idea.

Exercise can be as creative or as straightforward as you want it to be. Doing light and moderate exercise on a regular basis is much better than doing one vigorous workout and then taking the rest of the week off.

What is a good BMI for a 5’8 male and a 5’8 female?

A healthy BMI for a 5'8 male

Based on the body mass index formula, a good BMI for a 5’8 male and a 5’8 female is between 18.5 and 24.5, which works out to a body weight of between 123 lbs and 164 lbs.

As mentioned, you can absolutely weigh more than this and still be healthy (depending on your body composition).

BMI is the same for both men and women. But since men tend to have more muscle mass on average, it’s more likely that males will exceed this upper BMI threshold.

To be sure, women can have plenty of muscle mass too. But most women who are 5’8 with an overweight BMI tend to have too much body fat.

5’8 100 lbs

Those who are 5’8 and 100 lbs are extremely thin. Indeed, some individuals may not even be able to reach such a dangerously low BMI (15.2) and may become seriously ill before their body weight gets so low.

5’8 105 lbs

Anyone who is 5’8 and 105 lbs is putting their physical health in grave danger by maintaining such an unbelievably low BMI (16), which is classed as severe thinness.

5’8 110 lbs

If you’re 5’8 and 110 lbs, then, due to your low BMI (16.7), you’re classed as being underweight and should try to add muscle and potentially even fat to your frame.

5’8 115 lbs

Those who are 5’8 and 115 lbs, although not extremely thin, are still said to have mild thinness due to their low BMI, which works out to 17.5, which is one BMI point into the underweight classification.

5’8 120 lbs

Are you 5’8 and 120 lbs? If so, you have a BMI of 18.2, which is ever so slightly underweight.

5’8 125 lbs

If you’re 5’8 and 125 lbs, then your BMI (19) is on the low end of the normal classification.

5’8 130 lbs

A 5’8 and 130 lb body type gives you a BMI of 19.8.

5’8 135 lbs

You have a BMI of 20.5 if you’re 5’8 and 135 lbs, which is considered healthy for most people.

5’8 140 lbs

Those who are 5’8 and weigh 140 lbs have a body mass index of 21.3, which is well within the normal and healthy range for the BMI (although a healthy BMI by itself is no guarantee of good health).

5’8 145 lbs

Anyone who is 5’8 and 145 lbs has a normal BMI of 22.

5’8 150 lbs

If you’re 5’8 150 lbs, then you have a 22.8 BMI, which is well within the normal range for both males and females.

5’8 155 lbs

Are you 5’8 and 155 lbs? If so, then your BMI is 23.6, which is considered normal.

5’8 160 lbs

If you’re 5’8 and 160 lbs, then your BMI is 24.3, which, although on the higher end of the normal range, is still considered healthy for both men and women.

5’8 165 lbs

A 5’8 and 165 lbs body type gives you a body mass index of 25.1, which is ever so slightly into the overweight category (although it is much lower than average).

5’8 170 lbs

A BMI of 25.8 is the body mass index score of someone who is 5’8 and weighs 170 lbs.

5’8 175 lbs

If you’re 5’8 and 175 lbs, then you have a BMI of 26.6. While this BMI is considered overweight, some 5’8 individuals may be this heavy (while being healthy) if they have a lot of muscle mass and/or a broad build.

5’8 180 lbs

If you’re 5’8 and 180 lbs, then your body mass index (BMI) is 27.4, which is in the middle of the overweight category.

5’8 185 lbs

A person who is 5’8 and weighs 185 lbs is considered overweight because they have a BMI of 28.1.

5’8 190 lbs

Those who are 5’8 and weigh 190 lbs are on the higher end of the overweight classification due to their 28.9 BMI.

5’8 195 lbs

A BMI of 29.6 is the body mass index score that you’ll have if you’re 5’8 and 195 lbs.

5’8 200 lbs

Those who are 5’8 200 lbs have a BMI of 30.4, which is just into the obese classification. Obviously, most people who are 5’8 and 200 pounds are likely to have excess body fat and not simply lots of muscle mass.

5’8 205 lbs

Are you 5’8 and 205 lbs? If this is the case, then your BMI, which is classed as obese, is 31.2.

5’8 210 lbs

If you’re 5’8 and 210 pounds, then your body mass index is 31.9.

5’8 215 lbs

A person who is 5’8 and weighs 215 pounds has a body mass index of 32.7.

5’8 220 lbs

A BMI of 33.5 is your body mass index result if you’re 5’8 and 220 lbs, meaning that you’re well into the overweight classification.

5’8 225 lbs

Anyone who is 5’8 and 225 lbs has a BMI of 34.2, which is definitely too heavy to be healthy.

5’8 230 lbs

If you’re 5’8 and 230 lbs, then your BMI is 35 exactly.

5’8 235 lbs

Those who are 5’8 and weigh 235 pounds have a body mass index of 35.7, and thus class 2 obesity.

5’8 240 lbs

Your BMI is 36.5 if you’re 5’8 and weigh 240 lbs, which, again, is class 2 obesity.

5’8 245 lbs

Those who are 5’8 and weigh 245 pounds have a body mass index of 37.3

5’8 250 lbs

If you’re 5’8 and 250 lbs, then your BMI is 38, which is considered obese for both females and males. Similarly, if you’re 5’8 and 255 lbs, then your BMI is 38.8.

5’8 260 lbs

Those who are 5’8 and 260 lbs have a BMI of 39.5 (class 2 obesity), while those who are 5’8 and 265 lbs have a BMI of 40.3 (class 3 obesity).

5’8 270 lbs

If you’re 5’8 and 270 lbs or 5’8 and 275 lbs, then you’re classed as being severely obese due to your BMI of 41.1 or 41.8.

5’8 280 lbs

Those who are 5’8 and 280 lbs have a body mass index of 42.6, while those who are 5’8 and 285 lbs have a 43.3 BMI.

5’8 290 lbs

You have a BMI of 44.1 (severe obesity) if you’re 5’8 and weigh 290 lbs.

5’8 300 lbs

Those who are 5’8 and 300 lbs have a very high BMI of 45.6, which is much higher than average for both men and women.

Is the normal weight for a 5’8 female and a 5’8 male considered healthy?

how much should a 5'8 female weigh

The average weight for a 5’8 male and the normal weight for a 5’8 female is not considered healthy because both result in an overweight, virtually obese BMI.

Sure, health isn’t measured by your weight or BMI, but an excessive body weight is certainly an indicator that a person might have too much body fat.

While there isn’t one ideal weight for a 5’8 male or a 5’8 female, you should still focus on maintaining a relatively lean physique, which will most likely keep your BMI in the normal range.

References

  1. Chow, C. C., & Hall, K. D. (2008). The dynamics of human body weight change. PLoS computational biology4(3), e1000045. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000045
  2. Duncan, C. (2023, February 1). Ultra-processed foods may be linked to increased risk of cancer. Imperial News. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/242892/ultra-processed-foods-linked-increased-risk-cancer/
  3. Kyle, U. G., Schutz, Y., Dupertuis, Y. M., & Pichard, C. (2003). Body composition interpretation. Contributions of the fat-free mass index and the body fat mass index. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)19(7-8), 597–604. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0899-9007(03)00061-3