What Is the Average Height and Weight for a Teenager?
We All Feel a Little Awkward During Puberty
Its important to remember that as a teenager your weight and height is changing and sometimes you will experience a growth spurt in either aspect that may make you feel awkward. Do not lose hope because puberty, although dreadful, does come full circle eventually. Soon, your long and skinny limbs will shape into muscle and your wider frame will slim out as you grow taller. An easy way to build up your self esteem and self image is to get a more realistic view of what the average weight and height for a teenager is.
Average Height and Weight
According to teengrowth.com the average 16 year old female is between 4'9” and 5'9” and that the average 16 year old male is 5'1” and 6'2”. Similarly the average 16 year old girl weights between 90-185 pounds and the average 16 year old male weighs between 100-195 pounds. So what do these broad statistics tell us? Only that the average teenager sizes varies by individual and that there really is no one ideal weight for a 16 year old.
Body Mass Index for Teens
Another tool used to calculate whether your weight is healthy is the Body Mass Index, but you need to make sure you use one that is designed with teenagers in mind. Because you are going through puberty, your body is experiencing new growth of bone, muscle, and fat and BMI calculators designed for teens take some of that into account. Of course, if you have a very muscular, athletic build you need to know that your BMI might indicate you are overweight even though you’re not. Also, for those people with long, slender frames, excess belly fat could be overlooked because of overall weight distribution. So a 16 year old girl who is 5'3 and weighs 120 pounds would have a BMI of 21.3 which would put her at a healthy weight in the 57th percentile. Alternately that same girl at 5'3” could weigh 110 pounds (BMI of 19.5), or could weigh 140 pounds (BMI of 24.8) and still be considered a healthy weight.
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Love Your Body for What It Is
Teenagers come in all shapes, sizes, and heights and it can sometimes be hard to fit in. The truth of it is most of the anxiety that teens feel about their looks is self-imposed. As a teenager, you are in an egocentric phase of your life and that means that you see most of the world as revolving around you. So if almost every teenager in the world is worried about themselves, do you think they have time to worry about you too? Adolescence is a time of experimentation, adaptation and discovery. No one knows at age 13 what kind of person they will be at age 23,33, or 63. Its important to be true to yourself and follow your passions and dreams into adulthood.
What If I’m in the Overweight, Underweight or Obese Category?
If you are at an unhealthy weight, it’s important for you, your doctor and your family to address how serious your health risks are and what actions to take. It may be as easy as losing or gaining five to ten pounds. Remember that 16 year old girl? At 5'3’ 140 pounds she was considered healthy weight, but at 145 pounds she was considered overweight. Sometimes it’s a quick change and other times, like with childhood obesity, its important to take more serious action. Your best bet it to skip the fad diets that restrict what you eat and make you feel deprived. Try working on healthy lifestyle habits like daily exercise, smaller portions, and healthier snacking throughout the day. Instead of grabbing chips and soda try some fruit and water. Its easy when you make small changes that you hardly notice. If you have to drink soda try shifting to diet soda, or better yet to sugar-free iced teas.
The average weight and height of a teenager varies greatly and has more to do with staying in a healthy range than being at an ideal weight. Make sure to stay healthy and stay realistic about your self image and your fitness goals. What’s important is that you feel good from the inside out.
Sources:
Teen growth, https://www.teengrowth.com/index.cfm?action=development&drill=viewArt&art=11
BMI Percentile Calculator for Child and Teen English Version, https://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/
Average Height and Weight Chart, https://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/height-weight-teens.shtml
