Both methods are commonly used in health clubs and in commercial weight-loss programs, but results should be viewed skeptically. Because measuring a person's body fat is tricky, doctors often rely on other means to diagnose obesity. While both measurements have their limitations, they are reliable indicators that someone may have a weight problem. Doctors have used these tables for decades to determine whether a person is overweight. The tables usually have a range of acceptable weights for a person of a given height.
Many versions are available, all with different weight ranges.
A very muscular person may appear obese, according to the tables, when he or she is not. The table printed here is from the 1990 edition of Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a pamphlet printed jointly by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. In this table, the higher weights generally apply to men, who tend to have more muscle and bone. The lower weights more often apply to women, who have less muscle and bone. The table also shows higher weights for people age 35 and older, which some experts question.