Healthy Weight Range by Height – NHS Adult Weight Chart & Lookup
Your healthy weight range by height represents the exact span of body weights associated with the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, and joint degeneration. In the UK, the NHS defines this band as a Body Mass Index between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m².
Quick Weight-for-Height Lookup
Select or enter your height to reveal your recommended NHS healthy weight span:
Calculated using standard NHS adult boundaries: 18.5 – 24.9 kg/m²
Complete NHS Healthy Weight Chart by Height
Explore the full height weight chart covering all adult heights from 4ft 10in to 6ft 6in. Switch between UK Imperial and Metric units using the tabs below:
| Height (Ft / In) | Height (cm) | Minimum Healthy Weight (BMI 18.5) | Maximum Healthy Weight (BMI 24.9) | Total Healthy Span | NICE Ethnic Max (BMI 22.9) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ft 10 in | 147 cm | 6 st 5 lb (40.0 kg) | 8 st 7 lb (53.8 kg) | 2 st 2 lb (13.8 kg) | 7 st 13 lb (49.5 kg) |
| 4 ft 11 in | 150 cm | 6 st 8 lb (41.6 kg) | 8 st 12 lb (56.0 kg) | 2 st 4 lb (14.4 kg) | 8 st 2 lb (51.5 kg) |
| 5 ft 0 in | 152 cm | 6 st 11 lb (42.7 kg) | 9 st 2 lb (57.5 kg) | 2 st 5 lb (14.8 kg) | 8 st 6 lb (52.9 kg) |
| 5 ft 1 in | 155 cm | 7 st 0 lb (44.4 kg) | 9 st 6 lb (59.8 kg) | 2 st 6 lb (15.4 kg) | 8 st 10 lb (55.0 kg) |
| 5 ft 2 in | 157 cm | 7 st 3 lb (45.6 kg) | 9 st 11 lb (61.4 kg) | 2 st 8 lb (15.8 kg) | 8 st 13 lb (56.4 kg) |
| 5 ft 3 in | 160 cm | 7 st 7 lb (47.4 kg) | 10 st 1 lb (63.7 kg) | 2 st 8 lb (16.3 kg) | 9 st 3 lb (58.6 kg) |
| 5 ft 4 in | 163 cm | 7 st 12 lb (49.2 kg) | 10 st 7 lb (66.2 kg) | 2 st 9 lb (17.0 kg) | 9 st 9 lb (60.8 kg) |
| 5 ft 5 in | 165 cm | 8 st 0 lb (50.4 kg) | 10 st 11 lb (67.8 kg) | 2 st 11 lb (17.4 kg) | 9 st 13 lb (62.3 kg) |
| 5 ft 6 in | 168 cm | 8 st 4 lb (52.2 kg) | 11 st 1 lb (70.3 kg) | 2 st 11 lb (18.1 kg) | 10 st 3 lb (64.6 kg) |
| 5 ft 7 in | 170 cm | 8 st 7 lb (53.5 kg) | 11 st 5 lb (72.0 kg) | 2 st 12 lb (18.5 kg) | 10 st 7 lb (66.2 kg) |
| 5 ft 8 in | 173 cm | 8 st 10 lb (55.4 kg) | 11 st 10 lb (74.5 kg) | 3 st 0 lb (19.1 kg) | 10 st 12 lb (68.5 kg) |
| 5 ft 9 in | 175 cm | 9 st 0 lb (56.7 kg) | 12 st 0 lb (76.3 kg) | 3 st 0 lb (19.6 kg) | 11 st 2 lb (70.1 kg) |
| 5 ft 10 in | 178 cm | 9 st 4 lb (58.6 kg) | 12 st 5 lb (78.9 kg) | 3 st 1 lb (20.3 kg) | 11 st 6 lb (72.6 kg) |
| 5 ft 11 in | 180 cm | 9 st 7 lb (60.0 kg) | 12 st 11 lb (80.7 kg) | 3 st 4 lb (20.7 kg) | 11 st 11 lb (74.2 kg) |
| 6 ft 0 in | 183 cm | 9 st 13 lb (62.0 kg) | 13 st 3 lb (83.4 kg) | 3 st 4 lb (21.4 kg) | 12 st 3 lb (76.7 kg) |
| 6 ft 1 in | 185 cm | 10 st 1 lb (63.3 kg) | 13 st 8 lb (85.2 kg) | 3 st 7 lb (21.9 kg) | 12 st 7 lb (78.4 kg) |
| 6 ft 2 in | 188 cm | 10 st 5 lb (65.4 kg) | 13 st 13 lb (88.0 kg) | 3 st 8 lb (22.6 kg) | 12 st 12 lb (81.0 kg) |
| 6 ft 3 in | 191 cm | 10 st 10 lb (67.5 kg) | 14 st 5 lb (90.8 kg) | 3 st 9 lb (23.3 kg) | 13 st 4 lb (83.5 kg) |
| 6 ft 4 in | 193 cm | 10 st 13 lb (68.9 kg) | 14 st 10 lb (92.7 kg) | 3 st 11 lb (23.8 kg) | 13 st 8 lb (85.3 kg) |
| 6 ft 5 in | 196 cm | 11 st 3 lb (71.1 kg) | 15 st 1 lb (95.6 kg) | 3 st 12 lb (24.5 kg) | 13 st 13 lb (88.0 kg) |
| 6 ft 6 in | 198 cm | 11 st 7 lb (72.5 kg) | 15 st 7 lb (97.6 kg) | 4 st 0 lb (25.1 kg) | 14 st 4 lb (89.8 kg) |
Want to see how your current weight looks on dynamic 2D body frames? Try our interactive Visual BMI Calculator, or review clinical band definitions on our NHS Healthy BMI Range guide.
The Mathematics & Physiology Behind Weight-for-Height Spans
Why healthy weight is expressed as an expansive span of 2 to 4 stones rather than a single rigid number.
1. The Quetelet Height-Squared Formula
The lower and upper weight limits are calculated directly using Adolphe Quetelet's metric formula:
- Minimum Healthy Weight (kg):
18.5 × (Height in Metres)² - Maximum Healthy Weight (kg):
24.9 × (Height in Metres)²
Because height is squared, taller individuals have a wider absolute kilogram range than shorter individuals (e.g. a 25.1 kg span at 6ft 6in vs 13.8 kg at 4ft 10in).
2. Biological Frame Variation
The span of approximately 20 kg (3 stones) accommodates natural structural diversities:
- Skeletal Wrist/Elbow Breadth: Small, medium, and broad bone architecture.
- Skeletal Muscle Proportion: Physical activity levels, athletic training, and occupational demands.
- Age-Related Bone Density: Natural shifts in lean muscle tissue throughout the human lifespan.
Ethnic Specific Healthy Weight Limits (NICE Guideline PH46)
Why maximum healthy weight limits are lower for South Asian, Black African, African-Caribbean, and Chinese adults.
NICE Public Health Recommendations
Extensive UK epidemiological research confirms that individuals of South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi), Black African, African-Caribbean, and Chinese descent develop insulin resistance, hyperlipidaemia, and coronary artery disease at lower body weights.
Consequently, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) defines the upper healthy limit for these communities as BMI 22.9 kg/m² (rather than 24.9 kg/m²). For example, a 5ft 8in South Asian adult reaches the upper healthy threshold at 10st 12lb (68.5 kg) rather than 11st 10lb (74.5 kg).
Complementary Measures: Checking Your Waist-to-Height Ratio
Weight for height does not measure where fat is stored. Visceral abdominal fat is the key clinical predictor of metabolic risk.
The NICE "Keep Your Waist to Less Than Half Your Height" Rule
In updated clinical guidelines (CG189), NICE recommends that all UK adults maintain a waist circumference less than 50% of their height (a waist-to-height ratio below 0.5).
To check this: measure your waist midway between the bottom of your lowest rib and the top of your hips. If you are 5ft 10in (70 inches / 178 cm), your waist circumference should ideally be less than 35 inches (89 cm).
Learn more about nutrition strategies and sustainable habit formation in our Healthy BMI Weight Guide, or compare ideal formulas on our Ideal Weight by Height UK guide.
Explore Related NHS Weight & Health Tools
Comprehensive UK health screening calculators and evidence-aligned resources:
BMI Calculator NHS
Calculate your BMI with imperial and metric toggles, NICE ethnic risk assessments, and printable health summaries.
Ideal Weight by Height UK
Compare classic clinical formulas (Devine, Robinson, Hamwi, Miller) against modern NHS BMI ranges.
NHS Healthy BMI Range
In-depth clinical guide on the 18.5–24.9 kg/m² healthy range, age factors, and metabolic longevity.
Visual BMI Calculator
Interactive 2D body visualizer showing dynamic silhouette transformations across all NHS weight bands.
Frequently Asked Questions (Healthy Weight Range by Height)
Clear clinical answers to common questions about height-to-weight charts and adult weight standards.
The NHS healthy weight range is determined by applying the normal adult BMI thresholds (18.5 to 24.9 kg/m²) to your height. The lower boundary equals 18.5 × (height in metres)², and the upper boundary equals 24.9 × (height in metres)².
For an adult standing 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm), the standard NHS healthy weight range is 8 stones 10 lbs to 11 stones 10 lbs (55.4 kg to 74.5 kg).
A range of approximately 2 to 3 stones (15 to 20 kg) accommodates natural biological variations in skeletal frame size, bone density, muscularity, and age, rather than enforcing an unrealistic single target number.
Yes. Under NICE guideline PH46, the healthy upper weight threshold for South Asian, Black African, African-Caribbean, and Chinese adults is based on a BMI of 22.9 kg/m² due to higher visceral fat risks at lower total weights.
Check your waist-to-height ratio (which should be under 0.5) to assess abdominal fat. A modest 5% to 10% sustained weight reduction through balanced nutrition and 150 minutes of weekly activity delivers significant cardiovascular and metabolic health benefits.
Authoritative UK Health Sources & Clinical Guidelines
- NHS England: Managing your weight and height-to-weight health metrics – Public Health Digital Care.
- NICE Guideline CG189: Obesity: identification, assessment and management (Updated 2022).
- NICE Public Health Guideline PH46: BMI: preventing ill health and premature death in black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups.
- World Health Organization (WHO): Physical status: the use and interpretation of anthropometry (WHO Technical Report Series 854).
- British Heart Foundation (BHF): Body Mass Index, abdominal fat distribution and cardiovascular risk.
Medical & Clinical Screening Disclaimer
Important: The information provided on this website is for general educational, screening, and guidance purposes only. BMI is an anthropometric screening tool and does not provide an individualized medical diagnosis.
Personal health factors, medical history, muscle composition, and metabolic blood markers should always be assessed by a qualified doctor, GP, or registered health professional. If you have concerns about your weight or general health, contact your local NHS GP practice.