Human weight

Weight, in the context of human body weight measurements in the medical sciences and in sports is a measurement of mass, and is thus expressed in units of mass, such as kilograms (kg), or units of force such as pounds (lb). In Britain and Ireland, the unit stone (equivalent to 14 lb or 6.35 kg) is commonly used as well.

A quantity called body mass index (BMI) is often used to express weight relative to height. This is determined by dividing the weight of a person in kilograms by the square of the height in meters.

Health issues involving human weight

 * normal and abnormal growth and development
 * the physiological and hormonal control of ingestion and digestion
 * appetite, hunger and other motivations to eat
 * problems in regulating body weight, often resulting in obesity
 * eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa
 * effects of disease, often resulting in cachexia
 * drug abuse

Average weights and heights of USA, Canadian, Finnish and British men and women
USA: Over the ten year period (1991 to 2001), the average American woman's weight increased 11 pounds (7 %), while her height has remained about the same (an increase of 0.1 inch or 0.2% taller). Ten years ago, she weighed at a height of 5' 3.7" (162 cm).  Now, it's  and 5' 3.8" (162 cm).

Men have also increased their weight by an average of 10 pounds (6 %), from 180 to 190 pounds (82 to 86 kg / 12 st 12 lb to 13 st 8 lb), while remaining essentially the same height: 5' 10" (178 cm).

Canada: The average Canadian woman's weight is  and height is 5' 3.4" (161 cm).  Her male counterpart weighs, and is 5' 8.5" (174 cm) tall.

Britain: The average UK woman is 5' 3.8" (162 cm) tall and weighs .  This corresponds to a Body Mass Index of 25.5 kilograms/meters², which is slightly less than the average British man's, and less than the average American female's.

The average UK male stands 5' 9.5" (177 cm) tall and weighs, with a Body Mass Index of 26.0 kg/m².

The information given in this section includes weight and height data, by date. The latest weight, height and Body Mass Index data are summarized in the two tables below.