Q. What is the average height and weight of a man, a woman?
HEIGHT
Average height is a bit like average eye-color: It varies from place to place and culture to culture. It is mostly hereditary, there's not much you can do about it, and except for esthetic purposes, it really doesn't matter much.
However, since you asked.... data from the US National Center for Health Statistic Percentile, 1979, gives the average height for an 18 year old in North America:
The average male is 177 cm (5 foot 9.5 inches), and 90% of males are between 167cm (5 foot 6 inches) and 185 cm (6 foot3 inches).
The average female is 164cm (5 foot4 inches), and 90% of females are between 156cm (5 foot 1 inch) and 171cm(5 foot7 inches).
Keep in mind that these statistics are averages only, and depend greatly on your own cultural background and family history.
A fun trick you can try at home with your friends and family is to calculate expected height, based on the height of your parents. The mathematical formula is simple:
for males (Mom's height +Dad's height) / 2 + 4cm = expected height (in cm)
for females (Mom's height +Dad's height) /2 - 4cm = expected height (in cm)
This is a very general formula (standard deviation= 4cm for those of you who know what that means), so don't get too stressed out if it doesn't quite work out.
WEIGHT
Weight is a different matter. Although it too may be in large part hereditary, there are actions to take that can change it. In addition, optimal weight is associated with health benefits including a decreased chance of getting diabetes, high-blood-pressure, high-cholesterol, or heart attacks.
Because height varies so much, it is impossible to speak of an average or optimal weight for everyone. It is necessary to relate weight to height. For this purpose, physicians use a value called Body Mass Index (BMI). You can calculate your BMI at home as follows:
BMI = Weight in kilograms / (Height in meters^2)
note: make sure to use the appropriate metric system units, or your
results will be WAY out.
In brief, your BMI can be interpreted as follows:
BMI<20: Associated with Health Problems for some individuals. It may be good to see a doctor or dietician for advice
BMI 20-25: Lowest risk of illness for most people. This is the range to aim for.
BMI 25-27: Associated with health problems in some people. It may be good to see a doctor or dietician for advice.
BMI>27: Increased risk of health problems. See a doctor for advice.
BMI=8452: Check the formula above. Make sure to use the correct metric units.
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