There's no single "ideal" weight, as it varies by height, body composition, and age, but general guidelines use Body Mass Index (BMI) or height-weight charts, with a healthy BMI range of 18.5-24.9 kg/m² often cited, translating to roughly 50-60 kg for someone around 160 cm (5'3"). For example, a 163 cm (5'4") woman might have a healthy range of 49-60 kg, while a 168 cm (5'6") woman could be around 53-65 kg, emphasizing that a healthcare professional is best for personalized advice.
The Devine formula for calculating ideal body weight in adults is as follows:
Generally used to refer to males who could be overpowered and taken advantaged of by other males who are above 200 pounds. Could also be used as a general statement about a male weighing approximately 140-160 pounds or 60-70 kilograms.” - Urban Dictionary.
Your healthy weight range in Australia is generally a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9, calculated from your height and weight, indicating a normal weight, but it's a guide, with ranges like 18.5-24.9 considered healthy, 25-29.9 overweight, and 30+ obese, with waist circumference also important for assessing risk, say NSW Health, Medibank, and Healthdirect, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Better Health Channel, and Cancer Australia.
Sleep deprivation has long been linked to an increased risk of becoming overweight or obese. Researchers found that getting less than seven hours of sleep resulted in weight changes and may lead to weight gain, either by increasing food intake or decreasing energy burned.
In Australia, a size 12 is generally considered a "straight" or "missy" size, falling within average ranges, but due to vanity sizing and inconsistent measurements across brands, it can represent different body sizes; health-wise, a larger waist (over 88cm for women) is a risk factor, and the actual average Australian woman is now closer to a size 16-18, meaning a size 12 is smaller than average, though "fat" is a subjective term related to body image and health metrics like BMI, not just a single number.
It is considered underweight, but not terribly underweight. The BMI for this height and weight is 18.3 and anything under 18.5 is underweight and might threaten health. A normal, healthy weight for your height would be between 111 and 150 pounds … so I would not be too worried about your current weight.
What your BMI means
Whether 80 kg is overweight for a woman depends entirely on her height, as weight is relative to body size; using Body Mass Index (BMI) or height charts shows that for shorter women (e.g., under 160cm/5'3"), 80kg is likely obese, while for taller women (e.g., over 175cm/5'9"), it might fall within the healthy to overweight range, but always use a calculator for accuracy as BMI doesn't account for muscle.
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.
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.
Health & Longevity: Tall vs Short Bodies
Additionally, taller people may have advantages in lung function and strength-related metrics, but face slightly higher risks of certain conditions, like blood clots and atrial fibrillation.
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.
As you get older, it can get trickier. You might not be burning calories like you did when you were younger, but you can still take off extra pounds. The golden rules of weight loss still apply: Burn more calories than you eat or drink.
How to get your BMI down
New research from body-positive fashion app Mys Tyler shows that the average Australian woman wears size 16. The data was pooled from over 32,000 Mys Tyler users, which has been weighted to be representative of Australian women aged 18 to 75 as well as verified by global research firm Insights Exchange.
A women's Medium (M) can be either a size 12 or 14, or even both (12-14), depending on the brand, country (US, UK, Aus), and whether it's a top or bottom, but generally, size 12 often aligns with Medium, while size 14 can lean towards a Large (L), though some retailers use 12-14 as a unified Medium. Always check the specific brand's size chart, as sizing varies widely.
The country with the highest adult obesity rate is typically one of the Pacific Island nations, with Nauru often cited as number one, followed closely by American Samoa, Tokelau, and the Cook Islands, with rates exceeding 69% of the adult population. These island nations in Oceania consistently rank highest due to complex factors like diet changes and genetic predispositions.
This is a common myth, but it is indeed a myth. Setting a specific time to stop eating by really doesn't make sense, as we all have different schedules. Our bodies do best if we eat often during the day (ideally every 2-4 hours).
The 3-3-3 rule for weight loss is a simple, habit-based method focusing on three key areas: 3 balanced meals a day, 3 bottles (or ~1.5L) of water by 3 PM, and 3 hours of physical activity per week, aiming for consistency over complex diets. It simplifies fat loss by establishing rhythm through consistent eating, adequate hydration to support metabolism, and regular movement, promoting sustainable health without intense calorie counting or restrictive rules, says Five Diamond Fitness and Wellness, Joon Medical Wellness & Aesthetics, and EatingWell.
You Might Be Eating Too Little
This phenomenon is called “starvation mode,” and while your body isn't actually starving, it will naturally hold onto whatever calories it receives in an effort to help you maintain your energy balance.