Body Weight - What's Normal? / Question
Published: August 15, 2001
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I am an 18-year-old female and weigh 90 pounds. I am 5'2". I would like to know the average sizes for everything about a girl my age?
Signed: Average Sizes For Everything
Dear Average Sizes For Everything,
Average sizes for everything? That is a really tough question to answer but TeenHealthFX will give it a try. We will assume that you are asking about height and weight for now. There are averages for people in your age group, but remember that they are not a good indicator for a particular individual. Why? Because averages look at all people in an age group and pick out the middle point. Most people are not at that middle point.
A better way to look at you is not through averages, but as the unique individual that you are. So, take a look at our question on Appropriate Height And Weight where you can figure out your BMI (Body Mass Index) which will tell you how you are doing for your height and weight. This gives you a score on how you do for your height and weight.
Another thing averages cannot describe about you is your lifestyle, medical history and how you are doing emotionally.
Some good questions to ask yourself are:
- Generally, how are you feeling?
- How do you sleep? Do you wake often or early or have trouble falling asleep?
- Do you eat healthy by following the food pyramid?
- Do you get regular physical exercise?
- Do you have a good emotional support system, like friends and family that you can trust and that you talk to?
- Do you smoke, drink, or use drugs (alcohol or any other drugs)?
- Do you practice safer sexual behaviors?
Take a look at your answers to these questions and if you come up with some "no's" or are not feeling well in general, then you may want to see your doctor for an evaluation. Your doctor can look at you as an individual and make recommendations that are best for you.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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