Height/Weight ratio

I’m 17 years old, standing at about 5'10", and I've been sitting right at 130 lbs for at least a year now. No matter what I do, the scale just won't budge upward. Does anyone have any actual advice? Is this weight range even normal for someone my age?

You can't find the perfect weight by staring at some arbitrary chart from Miles or any other fitness magazine.

I’ve been around this same height and weight for quite some time now—not that it ever really bothered me. Honestly, if you feel good in your own skin, just embrace having a solid metabolism and enjoy it.

Trust me when I say you should never actually want to pack on the weight. Last year, I was cruising well over 220 pounds, and the worst part was how it all just settled—my stomach, my thighs, even my face; I was basically shaped like a keg. Luckily, I managed to drop about 45 pounds, so now at 6'6", I'm sitting around 175, and honestly, plenty of people tell me I look way too thin, but I feel incredible. Believe me, for the first time in my life, I could actually hit the beach without feeling totally mortified by my gut...

I'm telling you this because keeping the weight off is a whole different beast once you've actually done it. I went through hell trying to maintain it, and frankly, I wouldn't wish that struggle on anyone...

Thomas Watson7 said:I'm 17 years old, standing at 5'10", and I weigh about 130 lbs. I've been stuck at this weight for at least a year now and just can't seem to put on any muscle or mass—any advice? Is this normal for someone my age?

59/(1.77x1.77) = 18.85

That calculation gives you your Body Mass Index—and generally speaking, you'd want to see that number sitting somewhere between 19 and 25, though that fluctuates quite a bit depending on things like your build, how much you hit the gym, your age, and all that jazz. You're hovering just a hair below that threshold. So—my professional opinion? EAT! (I can already hear the critics coming out of the woodwork... honestly, if I had your height and your weight at your age, I'd be a different story entirely!) 👋

I just can't seem to put on any weight, no matter what I do!
And honestly, I'm not even active with any kind of serious exercise—just the occasional bit of random movement here and there.
By the way, do you think my height is appropriate for my age?
How old are you, anyway🙂?

Thomas Watson7 said:I simply CANNOT put on weight!
And honestly, I’m not even doing any serious athletics—just the occasional bit of random movement here and there.
By the way, is my height appropriate for my age?
How old are you 🙂?

If you're healthy, then don't sweat it. Why would you even want to gain weight? Besides, your height doesn't have anything to do with how old you are.
You know, it reminds me of my brother—he was tall and skinny all the way until he hit his late twenties (there was a stretch where he was about 6'3" and only weighed 160 lbs—actually less than me 😱!). Then, he got married... and now? He's definitely filled out. Not massive, because he's so tall, but he's hovering right around 220 lbs. So, yeah, you might just be seeing a preview of what's to come! 😈

Honestly, kid, you really shouldn't let these trivialities weigh on you quite so heavily. You're only seventeen, after all, and you're already agonizing over why you can't seem to put on any weight. I would suggest you simply enjoy this phase while your metabolism is still functioning at such an absurdly efficient rate—where you can practically consume an entire buffet without seeing a single change in your physique. Believe me, there will come a day when just glancing at a menu will be enough to make you gain a few pounds.

Thomas Watson7 said:I'm 17, standing at 5'10" and weighing about 130 lbs. I've been stuck at this weight for at least a year now and just can't seem to put on any muscle or fat. Any advice? Is this normal for someone my age?

First off, when I first read this, I totally thought you were a girl looking to gain weight. Honestly, I was going to say it’s great that you aren't one of those people struggling with anorexia. But then I realized you're probably a guy, right?😕 If you're actually trying to bulk up and you're feeling lost about whether your current weight is healthy or how much you should be aiming for, honestly, just go talk to a doctor or your primary care physician. It's better to get professional advice than random internet guesses. 🙂

Is there some kind of formula to figure out body fat based on height and weight, or is it measured totally differently? And what should my number actually be?

nimbleangler34 said:Is there actually a specific formula out there to calculate body fat percentage based on height and weight—or is it measured through some entirely different method altogether? And honestly, what kind of number should I even be aiming for?

Well, there certainly is one out there—though I have to admit, I haven't quite mastered the math myself 😬! Generally speaking, women tend to hover around the 25% mark, while men usually sit somewhere between 18-20%, if my memory serves me right. Aiming for 22% might be the "sweet spot" for women, but even then, it’s a bit of a moving target—it all really depends on how your body chooses to distribute that fat...

Bread and butter just a few hours before hitting the sack? Just watch how fast the weight creeps on!😁

kercy,

Body Mass Index isn't going to give you a definitive answer regarding whether you are thin or overweight. Isn't the only true way to judge your weight by looking in the mirror and deciding if you are happy with what you see? 🙂

If you feel fine and aren't experiencing any issues, there is simply no need to gain weight.

Besides, you're still young. If you start putting on extra weight now—since building muscle is quite difficult—you might find yourself complaining ten years from now about being too heavy and wanting to lose it all. 😉

Men just want to bulk up...
Women want to slim down...

It’s honestly a bigger mystery than an unknown 😁

Look, unknown, it’s definitely better to stay lean during those years rather than packing on the weight. You'll fill out enough later on 🙂

Daniel Cooper16 said:Eating bread and butter just a couple of hours before bed? You're basically asking to gain weight!😁

Exactly. Go ahead and suggest he switch to something loaded with cholesterol and saturated fats, then check back here in ten years when he posts the exact same thing: "I've got high blood pressure, bad cholesterol, and I can't lose the weight. What should I do?"

The magic word is: SPORT!

Go run until you can't anymore, go swimming, go do whatever... just go play some basketball! The weight will drop off on its own.

Swimming is incredible—it works your entire body perfectly.

George Bailey2, margarine is actually part of a diet recommended for people dealing with high cholesterol. Just don't pair it with white bread or eat it right before bed. 😁

Hit the gym and check out this site click here.
It worked for me when I was dealing with something similar. Look at me now... 😬

Focus on programs designed for bulking up click here, but definitely watch out for overtraining click here.

Back when I was about 6'3", I was hovering around 145 pounds. I eventually took up rock climbing—where being lightweight is a massive advantage—and ended up packing on about 13 pounds pretty quickly. From what I've seen, if you have a fast metabolism, the only real way to put on weight is to pick up a sport and build some actual muscle mass. It’s just how it works, in my experience.

Alright everyone, let’s hear it—give me your stats! I want to know your height and weight!
I'll kick things off: 6'1" and 187 lbs.
The old-timers always tell me those numbers are pretty much the sweet spot, but if you ask me, I’ve definitely got a bit of a gut hanging out here. 😬
If you head over to , there's this "Gut-O-Meter" tool that tells me my midsection is officially out of control 🙂
Now it's your turn! Let's see what you're working with!

BMI stands for Body Mass Index, which essentially serves as a metric for assessing body composition relative to height.
To calculate this, you take your total weight in pounds and divide it by your height in inches squared.
Generally speaking, medical professionals consider a healthy range to fall anywhere between 18.5 and 24.9. Anything falling below that threshold suggests you're underweight, while anything above indicates you've crossed into the territory of being overweight or obese.

Looking at your specific numbers—calculating 187 lbs divided by your height squared—you land right at 24.84. This puts you hovering precariously on the very edge of the healthy limit, so it might be wise to keep a close eye on your habits before you drift further into the overweight category.