If you buy something through a link on this page, we may earn a small commission. How this works. How much does the average American man weigh? The average American man 20 years old and up weighs 197.9 pounds . The average waist circumference is 40.2 inches, and the average height is just over 5 feet 9 inches (about 69.1 inches) tall. When broken down by age group, the average weights for American men are as follows: Age group (Years) Average weight (Pounds) 20–39 196.9 40–59 200.9 60 and older 194.7 As time wears on, American men are increasing in both stature and weight. In the 1960s , the average man weighed 166.3 pounds and stood at 68.3 inches (just over 5 feet 8 inches) tall. American women are also reporting an increase in height and weight over time. In the 1960s , the average woman weighed 140.2 pounds and was 63.1 inches tall. By comparison, the average American woman today weighs 170.6 pounds, has a waist circumference of 38.6 inches, and is just under 5 feet 4 inches (about 63.7 inches) tall. Here’s more about why this is happening and what you can do to keep your weight in a healthy range for your stature.

How do Americans compare to the rest of the world? The average weight of people in the United States and North America as a whole is higher than any other region in the world. In 2012, BMC Public Health reported the following average weights by region. The averages were calculated using data from 2005, and relied on combined statistics for men and women: North America: 177.9 pounds

177.9 pounds Oceania, including Australia: 163.4 pounds

163.4 pounds Europe: 156.1 pounds

156.1 pounds Latin America/Caribbean: 149.7 pounds

149.7 pounds Africa: 133.8 pounds

133.8 pounds Asia: 127.2 pounds The world average for an adult’s weight is 136.7 pounds.

What’s the relationship between height and weight? The BMI isn’t always a perfect tool to gauge whether your weight is in the healthy or normal range. An athlete, for example, may weigh more than a non-athlete of the same height, but be in much better physical condition. That’s because muscle is denser than fat, which contributes to a higher weight. Gender is also a consideration. Women tend to store more body fat than men. Likewise, older adults tend to carry more body fat and have less muscle mass than younger adults of the same height. If you’re looking for a reasonable estimate of an ideal weight for your height, consider the following table: Height in feet and inches Healthy weight in pounds 4’10” 88.5–119.2 4’11” 91.6–123.3 5′ 94.7–127.5 5’1″ 97.9–131.8 5’2″ 101.2–136.2 5’3″ 104.5–140.6 5’4″ 107.8–145.1 5’5″ 111.2–149.7 5’6″ 114.6–154.3 5’7″ 118.1–159 5’8″ 121.7–163.8 5’9″ 125.3–168.6 5’10” 129–173.6 5’11” 132.7–178.6 6′ 136.4–183.6 6’1″ 140.2–188.8 6’2″ 144.1–194 6’3″ 148–199.2

What are some other ways to determine your body composition? One of the main limitations of BMI is that it doesn’t take a person’s body composition into consideration. A slim man and a broad-shouldered man of the same height may have very different weights but be equally fit. There are other measurements that can give you a more accurate idea of whether or not you’re at a healthy weight. Waist-to-hip ratio One such measurement is the waist-to-hip ratio. The waist-to-hip ratio is important because weight stored in the abdominal area puts you at a higher risk for certain health conditions, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Measurements will be taken at your natural waist (right above your belly button) as well as the widest part of your hips and buttocks. In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended a maximum waist-to-hip ratio of 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women. Ratios of 1.0 and 0.90, respectively, put men and women at high risk for health problems. Despite its overall usefulness, the waist-to-hip ratio isn’t recommended for everyone. Some groups, including children and those with a BMI over 35, may find that other methods provide a more accurate assessment of their fitness. Body fat percentage There are a variety of ways to determine your body fat percentage, including skinfold thickness measurements and densitometry. Your doctor or a personal trainer may be able to perform these types of tests. Online calculators can also use measurements such as your height, weight, and wrist circumference to estimate your body fat percentage. The American Council on Exercise (ACE), an organization for fitness professionals, uses the following classifications for male body fat percentage: Classification Body fat percentage (%) Athletes 6–13 Fitness 14–17 Acceptable/Average 18–24 Obese 25 and up