There is no single number that represents the right weight for your height. There is a range — and whether you fall within it, above it, or below it is a useful starting point, not a verdict. This guide gives you the NHS-aligned healthy weight ranges for UK adults, explains what the numbers mean in practice, and covers what to look at alongside the scales.
Healthy weight ranges by height (UK adults)
The ranges below are based on NHS BMI guidelines — a healthy BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. Both stones/pounds and kilograms are shown. For people of South Asian, Chinese, Black African or Caribbean background, NHS guidance uses lower thresholds (overweight from BMI 23, high risk from BMI 27.5) — see the note below the table.
| Height | Healthy weight range (kg) | Healthy weight range (st/lb) |
|---|---|---|
| 5'0" / 152cm | 43–57 kg | 6st 11lb – 8st 13lb |
| 5'1" / 155cm | 44–59 kg | 6st 13lb – 9st 4lb |
| 5'2" / 157cm | 46–61 kg | 7st 3lb – 9st 9lb |
| 5'3" / 160cm | 47–63 kg | 7st 6lb – 9st 13lb |
| 5'4" / 163cm | 49–66 kg | 7st 10lb – 10st 5lb |
| 5'5" / 165cm | 51–68 kg | 8st 0lb – 10st 10lb |
| 5'6" / 168cm | 52–70 kg | 8st 3lb – 11st 0lb |
| 5'7" / 170cm | 54–72 kg | 8st 7lb – 11st 5lb |
| 5'8" / 173cm | 55–75 kg | 8st 10lb – 11st 11lb |
| 5'9" / 175cm | 57–77 kg | 9st 0lb – 12st 2lb |
| 5'10" / 178cm | 59–79 kg | 9st 4lb – 12st 6lb |
| 5'11" / 180cm | 60–81 kg | 9st 7lb – 12st 11lb |
| 6'0" / 183cm | 62–84 kg | 9st 11lb – 13st 3lb |
| 6'1" / 185cm | 64–86 kg | 10st 1lb – 13st 8lb |
| 6'2" / 188cm | 65–89 kg | 10st 4lb – 14st 0lb |
| 6'3" / 191cm | 67–91 kg | 10st 8lb – 14st 5lb |
South Asian, East Asian and Black African/Caribbean adults: NHS guidance recommends lower thresholds. The healthy BMI range is the same (18.5–22.9), but overweight begins at BMI 23 rather than 25, and high risk at BMI 27.5 rather than 30. This means healthy weight ranges are lower than the table above for people from these backgrounds. Use the calculator and select the appropriate ethnicity adjustment.
What the range actually means
A 14–27 kg spread within the healthy range for an average height means the concept of a single "ideal weight" is not really meaningful — your healthy weight is a zone, not a number. Where you sit within that zone depends on your body composition (muscle versus fat), your age, your sex, and your individual build. Someone naturally lean and lightly muscled might feel and function best at the lower end; someone with more muscle mass might feel better toward the upper end, with both being equally healthy.
The healthy range is also based on BMI, which has real limitations — it does not distinguish between muscle and fat, and can misclassify very muscular people as overweight. See our guide to BMI reliability for the full picture.
Waist circumference: the measurement that matters alongside weight
Where you carry weight matters as much as how much you carry. Excess fat around the abdomen — visceral fat — is more strongly linked to health risks than subcutaneous fat stored elsewhere. The NHS recommends keeping waist circumference within these limits:
| Low risk | High risk | Very high risk | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Under 94cm (37") | 94–102cm (37–40") | Over 102cm (40") |
| Women | Under 80cm (31.5") | 80–88cm (31.5–35") | Over 88cm (35") |
Measure at the midpoint between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone — not at your navel, which gives a different reading. If your weight is within the healthy BMI range but your waist is above the recommended threshold, that combination is worth discussing with a GP.
Waist-to-height ratio: a single useful number
Dividing your waist measurement by your height gives a ratio that many researchers consider a better predictor of health risk than BMI alone. The general recommendation is to keep this ratio below 0.5 — in plain terms, your waist should be less than half your height. This measure adjusts automatically for body size and works reasonably well across different heights and ethnicities.
Why aiming for a specific number is often counterproductive
Many people approach weight management with a specific target in mind — "I want to be X stone." The problem is that the scales measure everything: fat, muscle, bone, water, food in transit. Your weight can fluctuate 1–3 kg day to day without any change in fat. Two people at the same weight and height can have very different body compositions and very different health profiles.
A more useful framing: aim to bring your measurements into the healthy range — weight, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio — rather than fixating on a specific number. How your clothes fit and how you feel are often more meaningful short-term signals than the daily scale reading.
How to move toward a healthy weight
If your weight is currently outside the healthy range, a modest, sustainable calorie deficit is the evidence-based approach. The NHS recommends aiming for no more than 0.5–1 kg of weight loss per week for most adults — faster than this typically involves muscle loss as well as fat, which is counterproductive. A 500 kcal daily deficit produces roughly 0.5 kg of fat loss per week — sustainable, achievable, and protective of muscle mass.
Use the TDEE calculator to find your maintenance calories and set a sensible target, and see the calorie deficit guide for how to put the numbers into practice.
Sources: NHS BMI healthy weight guidance, NHS waist measurement guidance, NICE obesity guidelines, WHO BMI classification, NHS ethnic group BMI adjustments. This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Speak to your GP if you have concerns about your weight or health.