"Slim" for a woman is subjective, but medically, it often relates to a Body Mass Index (BMI) below 25 (with under 18.5 considered underweight), while visually, it implies low body fat, often in the 18-24% range, appearing lean but with some curves, though body types, genetics, and personal perception vary greatly.
Women with a BMI of less than 18.5 are considered underweight. The average woman's height is 5 feet, 4 inches. If you weigh 107 pounds or less at this height, you are considered underweight with a BMI of 18.4. A healthy weight range for that woman would be 108 to 145 pounds.
24 – 26% Body Fat
This body fat percentage is considered the low range of average for women in many body fat charts. At this level of fat, a woman is generally considered to look slim, but not too skinny. Curves in the hips, thighs and buttocks will be apparent at this range.
A BMI of less than 18.5 kg/m² is considered underweight. A BMI between 25 kg/m² and 29.9 kg/m² is considered overweight. A BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher is considered obese. To check your BMI, type your height and weight into the BMI calculator for adults from the National Institute of Health.
Ectomorph. This refers to a body type that is lean and slender and tends to have less body fat and muscle. People with this body type can often find it challenging to gain weight in the form of muscle or fat. Celebrities and fashion models are examples of this body type.
If you have a BMI of less 18.5, you're technically considered underweight. If your flexed biceps measure less than 13.3″ in circumference, that's a good sign that your muscles are smaller than average, and so you could be considered skinny.
Body Shapes with the Highest Risk of Health Problems
Apple and pear body shapes tend to have the highest risk. Apples tend to be at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, and strokes because they hold a larger amount of tummy fat.
70kg isn't inherently heavy for a woman; it depends heavily on height, body composition, and build, but it often falls into a healthy range for taller women, while for shorter women, it could lean towards overweight. For example, a 175cm (5'9") woman at 70kg has a healthy BMI, but a 163cm (5'4") woman at the same weight might be considered borderline overweight, according to this article from The Daily Telegraph.
Your most consistent and "true" weight is generally in the morning, after using the restroom and before eating or drinking anything, because your body has had time to digest overnight, leading to less fluctuation from food, liquids, and daily activities. Weighing at the same time, with minimal clothing, and under consistent conditions helps track trends more accurately than weighing at night when weight is higher due to meals and hydration.
In general, keep waist circumference to less than half your height. For example, for a 6-foot man (72 inches), a healthy waist size would be anything less than 36 inches. For a 5-foot-2 woman (62 inches), a healthy waist size would be anything less than 31 inches.
Many men prefer women who are “in between” skinny and curvy.
However, many men also said they prefer curvier women, and others said they prefer skinnier women. Some even said they don't care much about body types. Baller notes, “There's a wide range of body types that can be attractive.”
At the same time, scientists uncovered another fact: men are also attracted to women with curves. This means that women with a BMI of 22.8 to 24.8 are the most appealing to men. This corresponds to a height of 170 cm and a weight of 70 kg.
Slim fit garments offer a close fit that follows the contour of the body for a tailored appearance and skinny fit will have a tight-fitting design that hugs and clings to the body for a sleek look complimenting your body shape.
The recommended ranges for healthy men are between 10-20% body fat, and for women, the ranges are 18-28%. If your body fat exceeds these ranges, but you have a normal weight when you stand on the scale, you may be skinny fat.
People who consistently log six or fewer hours tend to have a higher body mass index (BMI). And even just a few nights of short sleep can result in short-term weight fluctuations. Not getting enough sleep can also increase your glucose (blood sugar) levels. That raises your risk of Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
At what time of the day are you heaviest? Generally speaking, people are at their heaviest after eating a meal and at their lightest after strenuous exercise where they sweat out their water weight.
Does Drinking Water Aid Weight Loss? There is evidence to support the claim that drinking water can aid weight loss. A study by the National Institute of Health on overweight women found that increasing water intake led to a reduction in body weight, body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage.
Remember meals, drinks and daily changes in schedule can affect weight readings. A couple of pounds here or there are not signs your body is changing. This is why weighing yourself after a bowel movement but before a meal helps maintain accuracy.
BMI Categories – What Your Results Mean
If you're 165 cm tall, a healthy weight is between 54 kg and 68 kg. If you weigh over 81 kg, your BMI is above 30, placing you in the obesity range.
The answer is yes — but not as drastically as you may think. Metabolism drives the body's basic functions, including converting food into energy to be used immediately or stored for later use. Research shows that metabolism starts to slow down after age 60,2 which may lead to body composition changes or weight gain.
Cardiologists generally advise avoiding processed meats, sugary drinks and sweets, and foods high in trans fats and sodium, like most fried foods and salty snacks, because they raise bad cholesterol, blood pressure, and inflammation, significantly increasing heart disease risk. Focusing on whole foods and limiting these culprits is key for heart health.
The rarest female body type is generally considered the hourglass, characterized by shoulders and hips of similar width with a significantly narrower, defined waist, with studies suggesting less than 10% of women naturally fit this description, while some data points to the inverted triangle (broad shoulders, narrow hips/waist) also being quite rare, potentially under 1% in some views, though hourglass is more consistently cited as the least common overall.
Let's add another fruit to our mix: the Banana, aka the rectangle or column. This shape can be defined as long and slender “boyish” figure or athletic build. While proportionally the Banana has a balanced upper and lower body and quite a slender frame, at times may have a less defined waist.