Average Woman Is 5'4" and 140 Pounds: Problem?

[tangomonster]

I just read in a newspaper article about eating disorders that the average woman is 5'4" and 140 pounds. Hearing so much about the obesity crisis, I expected it to be about 5'4" and at least 170 pounds!

Help me understand this. I realize this is several pounds heavier than women used to be. It's debatable about whether 140 pounds really has health implications for a 5'4" woman. What I can't understand is where is the crisis? The average means that there are sufficient women way under this to counter balance those way over. So---is there really a crisis?

At a recent visit to Costco, I saw so many obese people that I was buying into the obesity crisis. But after reading the article and returning from the gym which has a predominance of extremely thin (and some muscular) people, I'm confused as to what is really the case.

 

[aja8888]

At a recent visit to Costco, I saw so many obese people that I was buying into the obesity crisis. But after reading the article and returning from the gym which has a predominance of extremely thin (and some muscular) people, I'm confused as to what is really the case.

The above are two independent events and really don't cover the landscape of the average for women.

My neighbors on both sides of us consist of two widows about 75 years old and each probably weighs 110 pounds (maybe soaking wet) and are about 5' 5". Neither of these two women shop at Costco (none near us) or go to a health spa.

On the other hand, a visit to McDonald's in south Houston brings anther perspective of obesity into play.

 

[imoldernu]

DW - fits the description, but far above average

 

[Spudd]

According to the CDC, your article was mistaken. They say the average weight was 140 in 1960, but as of 2002 it had risen to 164 for women aged 20-74.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad347.pdf

 

[tangomonster]

Thanks, Spudd. That makes a little more sense.

The 140 pounds is still being quoted all the time, however---even on a government site for women:

Eating disorders | womenshealth.gov

They are getting the info from the National Eating Disorders Association, so maybe their agenda is to focus on the anorexic women who skew the weight down. I'd go more with the CDC.

 

[CaliforniaMan]

Try IHOP!

On a more serious side, check out Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and search obesity. They don't use the average as the more meaningful statistic is the percentage of the population that exceeds what they consider obese, as well at the percentage of the population that engages in unhealthy habits such as an unhealthy diet and insufficient exercise. These have all increased dramatically since 1980. They also document the increases in health problems and illnesses associated with this rising obesity.

 

[haha]

Thanks, Spudd. That makes a little more sense.

The 140 pounds is still being quoted all the time, however---even on a government site for women:

Eating disorders | womenshealth.gov

They are getting the info from the National Eating Disorders Association, so maybe their agenda is to focus on the anorexic women who skew the weight down. I'd go more with the CDC.

I think anorexia while undoubtedly serious, is very rare. I live in a part of the city where many young and body conscious people live. In the 10 years or so I've been here, I've seen one woman who looked alarmingly thin.
I don't think 5'4" is even overweight, or in any way likely to be a problem.

Regarding Costco- fat is inversely correlated to income. Costco is not for poor people, it's shoppers are solidly middle class and above. Wal*Mart is another story

Ha

 

[jowi]

I don't think that article is correct. Just doing a little googling, seems the average BMI for women is about 27-28 and 5'4" and 140 pounds is a 24 BMI.

 

[Texas Proud]

I know they say average.... but I wonder if it is median


IOW, there can be a lot of women in the 130 ish range.... but also a lot over 200.... if they use median it could be a lot lower number than avg...

 

[aaronc879]

Help me understand this. I realize this is several pounds heavier than women used to be. It's debatable about whether 140 pounds really has health implications for a 5'4" woman. What I can't understand is where is the crisis? The average means that there are sufficient women way under this to counter balance those way over. So---is there really a crisis?

My view differs from yours. Even if the average weight is reasonable there are still millions who are obese and I consider that a crisis. Similarly, the average income may be around $50K/yr which is a decent amount of money but there are millions who make under half that so there is a crisis in the number of poor people too even though the average income is fine across the board.

 

[robnplunder]

Crisis - a : an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending; especially : one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome <a financial crisis>


I am not a woman but am 5'5" tall (short if you prefer) and weighs 140 lbs. Nobody has ever called me obese, not even chubby. The only crisis I have is my situation at megacorp (evil boss, RE now or later).

 

[zinger1457]

Having spent the last month in Asia the obesity problem (not just women) over here in the US really got my attention walking through the airport on return. We seem to be turning into over weight cellphone addicted zombies.

 

[haha]

Crisis - a : an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending; especially : one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome <a financial crisis>


I am not a woman but am 5'5" tall (short if you prefer) and weighs 140 lbs. Nobody has ever called me obese, not even chubby. The only crisis I have is my situation at megacorp (evil boss, RE now or later).

If you were a 20 year old unmarried woman with these stats, you may be planning on some weight loss before the Bikini season rolls around.
But no heterosexual man at the beach would ever consider you fat, at your current weight or even quite a bit more. I think the typical husband would consider himself lucky if his wife were 5'4" and 140#.

Ha

 

[NW-Bound]

Height of 5'4" and 140# would not be considered obese, although the BMI of 24 would be right at the borderline.

However, same as an earlier poster, I found it hard to believe that it is the norm of American women. Well, not of most of the women I see in public. Perhaps the stat is compensated for by really skinny women elsewhere.

And by the way, my wife's BMI is less than 24.

 

[Socal Tom]

Statistics like that are useless. If you designed bras to fit the "average" person they would only have one cup. The important statistic is how much of our population is at an unhealthy weight.
Tom

 

[NW-Bound]

Statistics like that are useless. If you designed bras to fit the "average" person they would only have one cup...
Tom

Only one cup? Would that not be odd? I prefer to see women who need two cups. For symmetry, you know?

 

[haha]

Height of 5'4" and 140# would not be considered obese, although the BMI of 24 would be right at the borderline.

BMI of 25 is at the borderline of overweight, not obese. It takes 30 to be at the borderline of obese.

Ha

 

[NW-Bound]

Yes, wrong choice of word on my part.

 

[Socal Tom]

Only one cup? Would that not be odd? I prefer to see women who need two cups. For symmetry, you know?

That's my point the avaerge is meaningleaa

 

[golftrek]

Weight is relative. I am in my mid 60s, female. i am taller than average --5'10''. Last summer I went in for my annual physical, weighed around 180. I felt I looked good and because my face was somewhat full most people thought I was younger than my true age. BUT my blood work numbers were bad--cholesterol too high, blood sugar high, etc, even though I exercised and ate well. The doctor recommended weight loss. So I exercised more and cut out all the tasty foods and lost 20 pounds. Now at 160 my cholesterol, blood sugar,etc are much better. But I look like a scare crow and I have a lot more wrinkles and look older--some friends have even asked if I am sick.

I doubt if I can keep my weight at 160, I am just not eating enough and I am hungry! But I guess I am healthier. Not sure what the weight answer is for me.

Jo Ann

 

[tmm99]

I am 5'5" and weigh 125lbs. (I wear size M.) I am Asian.

My ideal weight (after the Dr measured my wrist and some other body parts years ago when I was 35) was supposed to be 107lbs or 117lbs. (I cannot remember the exact number but I was a couple of lbs over the ideal weight and I was very thin.) I used to weight about 104lbs in my 20's and probably 110lbs in my early 30's. I looked thin, but healthy.

So at 125lbs, I weigh much more now than I did then, but If I weighed 107 or 117lbs now, I would look too thin and sickly, although I looked fine with lower weight when I was younger. I would look too heavy however, if I weighed 140lbs now or any time.

 

[M Paquette]

So, how many of the men reading or participating in this thread can spot the 'statistically average American in this image:
View attachment 18372

Heh.

See here: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/mens-health/real-shape-american-man-dudes-youre-porky-f8C11394082

 

[Elbata]

Having spent the last month in Asia the obesity problem (not just women) over here in the US really got my attention walking through the airport on return. We seem to be turning into over weight cellphone addicted zombies.

There can be no debate that we have a serious problem. What gets me is how women just accept obesity and aren't angry. But we as a nation are so far from knowing what is actually healthy food, it's only going to get worse.(Of course men are included.)

 

[Chuckanut]

Just keep eating highly processed factory food, and stop wondering why you are overweight.

 

[tangomonster]

So, how many of the men reading or participating in this thread can spot the 'statistically average American in this image:
View attachment 18372

Heh.

See here: The 'real' shape of the American man: Dudes, you're porky! - NBC News

Not a man, but this was kind of chilling---both because Americans are less healthier than many other countries and because the American guy actually didn't look that porky to me...which possibly reflects that we no longer know what normally healthy looks like...