Average Weight of Women in America
Medically reviewed by Kashif J. Piracha, MD
The average weight for women is different based on a number of factors. An average weight for a group of people doesn't indicate what might be healthiest. An ideal body weight for health is a highly individualized topic.
Weight is affected by a number of factors, which include age, height, body frame size, genetics, environment, family history, metabolism, and behavior. Various ways of assessing body weight include body mass index (BMI), which is calculated from weight and height. BMI is commonly used, though it is considered imperfect.
This article will discuss some of the factors that affect weight, and the average weight for women in the United States and how it is different between ethnicities.
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A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
Average Weight for Women of Different Ages
In the United States, the average height and weight of children and adults is tracked by government entities such as the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
More than 5,000 adult females were included in a study published in 2021. The study determined the mean weight by age group and ethnicity. For all females over the age of 20 included in the study, the mean weight was 170.8 pounds (lb), which equals 77.5 kilograms (kg).
Mean weight was also tracked by age range. For females of the following ages, the average weights were:
20 to 29 years: 165 lb (74.9 kg)
30 to 39 years: 174.9 lb (79.3 kg)
40 to 49 years: 178.1 lb (80.8 kg)
50 to 59 years: 173.5 lb (78.7 kg).
60 to 69 years: 172.4 lb (78.2 kg)
70 to 79 years: 164.6 lb (74.7 kg)
80 years and over: 149.7 lb (67.9 kg)
Mean weight was also tracked by ethnicity. The average weight of all females age 20 years and older for the ethnicities that were captured in the study are:
Hispanic: 168 lb (76.2 kg)
Mexican American: 172 lb (78.0 kg)
Non-Hispanic Asian: 135 lb (61.2 kg)
Non-Hispanic Black: 188.5 lb (85.5 kg)
Non-Hispanic White: 170.9 lb (77.5 kg)
Factors That Determine Weight Averages in Women
Weight is highly individualized. Some of the factors that influence a person's weight are genetic predisposition, height, and muscle composition. People who are taller and who have more muscle mass (such as those who are athletes) may weigh more. Ethnicity is another factor that may influence a person's weight.
An average weight sample that's taken from a large sample of women provides a starting point for understanding how one's own weight places in relation. However, it doesn't offer much help as to what a healthy weight looks like for any one person.
People who want to understand what their own weight means in terms of health should contact a healthcare provider.
Average Female Weight in America vs. Other Countries
Availability of calories, protein, and health care are other factors that can have an effect on weight. Across the world, these factors are highly variable for a number of reasons.
The average weight of an adult may change in geographic regions that are experiencing scarcity in these factors. Trends in average adult weight in various geographic areas may also be observed over decades as the circumstances affecting weight change over time.
Here is the average weight for adult females in several different countries:
Bangladesh: 111.3 lb (50.5 kg)
India: 115.7 lb (52.5 kg)
South Korea: 134.5 lb (61 kg)
Zimbabwe: 142.4 lb (64.6 kg)
France: 145.5 lb (66 kg)
Mexico: 155.9 lb (70.7 kg)
Israel: 156.7 lb (71.1 kg)
Argentina: 157.4 lb (71.4 kg)
Germany: 158.1 lb (71.7 kg)
Canada: 159.6 lb (72.4 kg)
Australia: 160.1 lb (72.6 kg)
United Kingdom: 160.3 lb (72.7 kg)
Lebanon: 161.8 lb (73.4 kg)
Greece: 162.5 lb (73.7 kg)
United States: 170.0 lb (77.1 kg)
Egypt: 177.5 lb (80.5 kg)
Dominica: 178.1 lb (80.8 kg)
How to Get to an Ideal Weight for Your Body
A person's ideal weight is individualized and changes over time. The goal should be a weight that supports health, rather than trying to achieve a particular weight for other reasons. Some measures might be used to determine an ideal weight, though it's also understood that these metrics (such as BMI) are imperfect.
Height and wrist circumference are two measurements that are used to determine body frame size. An ideal weight then might be different for a person with a small frame size (wrist size less than 5.5 inches and height under 5 feet, 2 inches) versus one with a large frame size (wrist size over 6.5 inches and height over 5 feet, 5 inches).
Muscle mass affects weight because muscle weighs more than fat. The American Council on Exercise gives some ranges for body fat percentage, which includes between 14% and 20% for female athletes and 32% and above denoting having obesity.
Getting to an ideal weight might first mean deciding what that means. It's an individual process that could mean having discussions with your healthcare team and looking at the averages and measurements available for reference.
Measures you could take to affect your weight include:
Keep to a calorie intake that supports weight maintenance, gain, or loss.
Get an appropriate amount of sleep.
Increase physical activity to build muscle.
Stay hydrated by drinking enough water.
Summary
The average weight for women in America is tracked by researchers. However, there are wide variations in weight based on a number of factors, many of which are not under a person's control, such as height. Researchers have various measures for estimating a healthy weight, but what that means for every person is individualized.
Weight varies by country or geographic region, by ethnicity, and by fitness level. People who wish to affect their weight should consult their healthcare team to determine the best way to approach calorie intake, exercise, and other lifestyle changes.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
