So, you’re standing in the bathroom, staring at the scale, and wondering if that number is "normal." Honestly, it’s a loaded question. If you’re a 5'8" woman, you’re taller than about 90% of the female population in the U.S. That height comes with some unique considerations when it comes to bone density, muscle mass, and how weight actually distributes across your frame.
Stop obsessing over the "ideal" for a second.
The standard answer you’ll find on most medical charts for how much should I weigh 5 8 woman is based on the Body Mass Index (BMI). For someone who is 5'8", the "healthy" range is typically cited between 122 and 164 pounds. But here’s the thing: that’s a 42-pound gap. It’s huge. A woman who weighs 125 pounds looks and functions vastly differently than a woman who weighs 160 pounds, yet both are technically "normal."
Why the BMI Chart Usually Fails Taller Women
BMI is a blunt instrument. It was invented in the 1830s by a Belgian mathematician named Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet. Note that he was a mathematician, not a doctor. He explicitly stated that BMI was meant for population statistics, not for diagnosing individuals. Yet, here we are, nearly 200 years later, still using it to tell a 5'8" woman if she’s "healthy."
Because you’re taller, you have a larger skeletal structure. A "large frame" woman at 5'8" might have a wrist circumference over 6.25 inches. If that’s you, trying to hit 125 pounds might actually be dangerous for your bone health. You’d likely be sacrificing essential muscle mass just to see a specific number.
Think about muscle vs. fat. Muscle is dense. It’s compact. If you’re an athlete or someone who hits the squat rack regularly, you might weigh 170 pounds and have a lower body fat percentage than a "sedentary" woman weighing 140. The scale doesn't know the difference between a bicep and a belly.
Breaking Down the Ideal Weight Ranges
If we look at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company’s historical height and weight tables—which, despite being old, actually accounted for "frame size"—the numbers get a bit more nuanced.
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For a woman who is 5'8":
A small frame might aim for 126 to 139 pounds.
Medium frames often sit comfortably between 136 and 150 pounds.
Large frames? You’re looking at 146 to 167 pounds.
Does this mean if you weigh 175 you’re "unhealthy"? Not necessarily.
Researchers like those at the Mayo Clinic often point to waist-to-hip ratio as a much better predictor of health than total weight. For women, a ratio of 0.85 or lower is generally the goal. This measures visceral fat—the stuff that hangs out around your organs—which is way more dangerous than the "subcutaneous" fat on your legs or arms. If your waist is significantly smaller than your hips, your actual weight matters a whole lot less to your heart than the scale suggests.
The Role of Age and Menopause
Age changes everything. It’s annoying, but it’s true.
As we age, we lose bone density and muscle (sarcopenia). A 5'8" woman in her 20s can often maintain a lower weight because her metabolic rate is naturally higher. Fast forward to her 50s, and the hormonal shift of menopause often redistributes weight to the midsection.
Recent studies have actually suggested that for older adults, being slightly "overweight" on the BMI scale (around 25 to 27) might actually be protective against fractures and certain chronic diseases. It’s called the "obesity paradox," though "overweight paradox" is probably more accurate. Basically, having a little extra padding as you age isn't the disaster people make it out to be.
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What Real Health Looks Like at 5'8"
Let’s talk about markers that actually matter.
How is your energy? Can you climb three flights of stairs without gasping for air? How is your blood pressure? What about your A1C levels? These are the metrics your doctor should be looking at, not just the number on the scale.
I know a woman—let’s call her Sarah—who is exactly 5'8". She spent years trying to stay at 135 pounds because that’s what her favorite fitness influencer weighed. She was miserable. She was tired all the time, her hair was thinning, and she hadn't had a regular period in months. She finally gave up the ghost, started eating more protein, and lifted heavy weights. She now weighs 165 pounds. She wears the same dress size because her body composition shifted, but she feels like a superhero.
That’s the nuance that a simple Google search for how much should I weigh 5 8 woman usually misses.
Dealing with "Skinny Fat"
You can be "in range" and still be unhealthy. "Normal Weight Obesity" is a real medical term. It refers to people who have a BMI in the 18.5–24.9 range but have a high body fat percentage and low muscle mass. This can lead to the same metabolic issues—like Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol—as being clinically obese.
If you’re 130 pounds at 5'8" but you can’t do a single push-up and you live on processed snacks, your "ideal" weight is a lie. You’d be better off gaining ten pounds of muscle.
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Practical Steps for Finding Your Personal Baseline
Stop looking for a universal "gold standard" because it doesn't exist for your specific biology. Instead, use a multi-pronged approach to figure out where your body functions best.
First, get a DEXA scan if you’re really curious. It’s the "gold standard" for measuring body composition. It will tell you exactly how much of your weight is bone, fat, and muscle. It’s a wake-up call for some and a huge relief for others.
Second, track your performance, not your mass. Are you getting stronger? Is your resting heart rate dropping? These are signs of improving health that have nothing to do with gravity’s pull on your body.
Third, check your "Relative Fat Mass" (RFM). This is a newer formula that many experts think beats BMI. For women, it’s 76 – (20 × (height/waist circumference)). It’s surprisingly accurate for estimating body fat percentage using just a measuring tape.
The Final Reality Check
At the end of the day, the answer to how much should I weigh 5 8 woman is: the weight at which your clinical markers (blood sugar, pressure, lipids) are optimal, your energy is high, and you can maintain your lifestyle without disordered eating habits.
If you are 160 pounds and thriving, don't let a 19th-century math equation tell you you're "borderline." If you're 125 pounds and exhausted, don't let the same equation tell you you're "perfect."
Actionable Next Steps:
- Ditch the scale for 30 days. Focus entirely on how your clothes fit and how your energy levels feel during the day.
- Measure your waist-to-hip ratio. Use a flexible measuring tape. If you’re under 0.80, you’re likely in a very good spot metabolically, regardless of the scale.
- Prioritize protein and resistance training. Aim for 0.8 to 1 gram of protein per pound of your target weight to protect the muscle you have.
- Consult a practitioner who uses functional testing. Ask for a full metabolic panel rather than just a weigh-in. Focus on fasting insulin and C-reactive protein (an inflammation marker).
- Evaluate your "set point." Notice where your weight naturally stabilizes when you eat intuitively and move regularly. That is usually where your body wants to be.