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What is the average weight for men and women?

Average weight varies from person to person and depends on several factors such as gender, age, height, and activity level. In this blog post, we discuss the average weight for men and women, how to calculate a healthy weight using BMI, and the risks of both being overweight and underweight. For conscious athletes and eaters, understanding this data is essential to achieving their health and fitness goals.

Do I have a healthy weight?

One of the most common questions is: "Am I a healthy weight?" The answer depends on several factors such as height, age, and body composition. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a commonly used measure of healthy weight, but it's only a guideline and doesn't take muscle mass or fat distribution into account.

What is a healthy weight?

The Nutrition Center and other sources consider a healthy weight to be within the BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9. The BMI indicates whether your body weight is healthy in relation to your height. It's important to realize that this range doesn't apply to everyone, especially athletes with high muscle mass, such as bodybuilders.

Average weight of men and women

Differences in average weight between men and women are primarily caused by variations in muscle mass and body fat percentage. Men generally have more muscle mass, resulting in a higher average weight compared to women. The average weight for men in the Netherlands is around 84.8 kg, depending on factors such as age and height. This is different for women because they also have a different ratio, with a higher average body fat content, which also plays a healthy and necessary role, such as hormone production. The average weight of a Dutch woman is around 72 kg.

Weight difference between men and women

Women have a higher body fat percentage than men due to hormonal differences. Height also plays a significant role. Women are generally shorter than men, which also results in a lower average weight. Hormonal changes such as pregnancy and menopause can also affect women's weight. Height and age are important factors influencing weight. As people age, their metabolism slows, which can lead to weight gain. At the same time, body composition changes: muscle mass decreases and body fat percentage increases. Therefore, a 50-year-old who weighs the same as a 25-year-old can still have a different body composition.

What is BMI?

BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a benchmark that calculates the weight in relation to the length. The formula for BMI is:

Bmi = weight (kg) divided by length² (m) = 

The BMI is often used to determine whether someone is overweight, underweight or a healthy weight. However, it does not take muscle mass into account, so that athletes sometimes fall into the "overweight" category while they have a healthy fat percentage.

What is a healthy weight for your height? (Example calculation)

You can calculate your BMI to determine whether your weight is healthy for your height. Here is a simple example:

For example, if you are 1.75 meters tall and weigh 70 kg, then your BMI is:

BMI = 70/1.75²=22.86

This falls within the healthy range of 18.5 to 24.9.

This doesn't take your activity level into account. A bodybuilder can easily be overweight, even though that's not necessarily unhealthy.

Risks of being overweight and underweight

Overweight: Overweight people are at increased risk for various health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and joint pain. It's important to avoid excess weight by adopting healthy eating and exercise habits. 

Underweight:On the other hand, being underweight can also cause health problems, such as a weaker immune system, reduced bone density, and a higher risk of infections. Finding a healthy weight is therefore essential for maintaining good health.

Why do bodybuilders weigh more?

Bodybuilders often weigh more than the average person due to their higher muscle mass. Muscle weighs more than fat, but is more compact. This means that a bodybuilder with a higher BMI can still have a low body fat percentage. Therefore, BMI isn't always the best indicator for people who do intensive strength training.

Conclusion

It's important to know if you're at a healthy weight, especially if you exercise or are consciously aware of your diet. Factors like BMI, body fat percentage, and muscle mass all play a role. For athletes, it's essential to look not just at the number on the scale, but also at your body composition. At Prep The Food, we offer products that can help you achieve your fitness goals, such as: ready-made meals, packages to arrive, packages to lose weight, sports meals, vitamin juices, supplements, and protein-rich breakfasts.

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