What should a girl 5'2 weigh?

Answer 1

depends on how old you are of course!! i just turned 14 and the bmi calculator said 86-128 lb. and because your actually concerned as a teen, then i suggest you not borderline the 128, but lower than that.

go to the site here to calculate your own bmi: http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/bmi.html

Answer 2

To get to the answer we have to back up a bit.

First let me acknowledge that you said "girl". Weight assessment in children is a more complex issue that should be referred to a medical doctor. The following discussion refers to a woman who has reached physical maturity.

I should also point out that I am not a medical doctor, therefore I don't know what I'm talking about. This is not medical advice. Please see your doctor if you have concerns about your weight.

In terms of your health, what we're really trying to assess is what percentage of your body is made up of fat. The American Council on Exercise has the following guidelines for women:

Essential Fat: 10-12%

Athletes: 14-20%

Fitness: 21-24%

Acceptable: 25-31%

Obese: 32%+

Since accurately measuring body fat percentage is difficult, especially at home, another measure has been developed to give a quick but less accurate assessment. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a ratio of height to weight. In US units BMI is weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703

The U.S. Center for Disease Control has the following guidelines for BMI:

-18.5 = underweight

18.5-24.9 = Normal

25.0-29.9 = Overweight

30.0+ = Obese

If we rework the BMI equation, we get this:

Weight (lb) = (BMI/703) x [height (in)]2

So using your example of 5'2" (62")...

Under 101 lbs is underweight

101-136 lbs is normal

137-163 lbs is overweight

164 and above is obese

Since BMI is only an estimate, these are only indications. Issues such as age, race, and athleticism affect BMI. If your weight falls within the "normal" range, you probably have a healthy body fat percentage. If your weight falls outside the normal" range, you may wish to get a more accurate body fat percentage assessment or consult with your doctor.