Are you or your teenager worried about their weight? What is overweight for a 13-year-old? How do you know if your teen is healthy? We’ll go over everything you need to know in this post.
Media bombards us with messages about weight and health, so it is common to wonder whether our children or we are underweight, average, or overweight.
At 13, teens are rapidly growing and changing during puberty. These physical changes mean that their weight can change over a short period.
To determine if a teen is overweight, a BMI calculator is a helpful tool. However, consult a doctor if you are concerned about a healthy weight.
What Is Overweight For A 13-Year-Old?
According to BMI calculations for American teenagers, 13-year-olds who fall above the 85th percentile on the BMI are regarded as overweight. Teens with a BMI above the 95th percentile are seen as obese.
On average, a 13-year-old girl is regarded as overweight if she weighs 124 pounds and up. An overweight 13-year-old boy would be 127 pounds and up.
These weights are determined by a tool called the BMI (body mass index), which calculates a person’s body fat percentage. This percentage indicates whether someone’s weight is in a healthy range.
BMI is calculated using sex, weight, height, and age measurements for teenagers and is referred to as a BMI for age.
BMI is plotted on a chart with teens of the same age and sex and then divided into percentiles.
Percentiles are categories that show whether a teen weighs a healthy amount for their age and height. This assessment is general, comparing teens of the same age and sex.
| Percentile | Assessment |
| Under the 5th percentile | Underweight |
| 5th to 85th percentile | Healthy weight |
| 85th to 95th percentile | Overweight |
| 95th percentile or over | Obese |
However, a BMI score doesn’t tell the whole story of a teen’s weight as teens grow and change at different paces. The BMI score needs to be interpreted for each teen, taking into account questions like these:
- Has the teen gone through puberty?
- Has the teen had a recent growth spurt?
- What is the family’s health history?
- What are the genetics of the family in terms of weight and height?
- What is the teen’s body composition, e.g., muscular or petite?
- What is the teen’s diet?
- How much exercise does the teen do?
BMI is only one tool for determining average weight, and you should consult a doctor before diagnosing a weight problem.
Doctors need to take a complete history and use other techniques, like skinfold measurements, underwater weighing, and bioletrical impedance, which can also be used to get a more accurate calculation.
What Is Overweight For A 13-Year-Old Girl?
According to BMI calculations for teenage girls in the US, girls who fall above the 85th percentile are regarded as overweight, while teens with a BMI above the 95th percentile are seen as obese.
This BMI table shows the average weights of 13-year-old girls in the US:
| Percentile | Weight |
| 5th percentile | 76lb |
| 10th percentile | 80lb |
| 25th percentile | 89lb |
| 50th percentile | 101lb |
| 75th percentile | 116lb |
| 85th percentile | 124lb |
| 90th percentile | 135lb |
| 95th percentile | 148lb |
This table suggests that a 13-year-old girl is overweight if she weighs over 124lb and is obese if she weighs around 148lb. However, these weights are within range for an average 13-year-old girl, so do not diagnose a weight issue until you have considered height, growth stage, and other aspects of the teen’s physique.
BMI percentiles are averages that don’t consider the context. Calculate your or your child’s weight using an accurate BMI tracker.
What Is Overweight For A 13-Year-Old Boy?
According to BMI calculations for teenage boys in the US, boys who fall above the 85th percentile are overweight. Teens with a BMI above the 95th percentile are seen as obese.
This BMI table shows the average weights of 13-year-old boys in the US:
| Percentile | Weight |
| 5th percentile | 75lb |
| 10th percentile | 80lb |
| 25th percentile | 88lb |
| 50th percentile | 100lb |
| 75th percentile | 116lb |
| 85th percentile | 127lb |
| 90th percentile | 133lb |
| 95th percentile | 145lb |
This table shows that, on average, a boy of 13 who weighs over 127lb is seen as overweight. A boy of 145lb is regarded as obese. However, for boys, you need to check height when calculating the BMI, so consider genetics, stage of puberty, and other aspects of the teen’s physique.
Always calculate your or your child’s BMI using a reliable tool before diagnosing a weight issue.
How Much Should A 13-Year-Old Weigh?
A 13-year-old girl should weigh between 76 and 148lb, with an average weight of 101lb. These figures mean that 50% of girls at thirteen weigh less than 101lb, and 50% weigh more.
A 13-year-old boy should weigh between 75 and 145lb, with an average weight of 100lb. As with girls, these figures show that half of all boys will be under 100lb and half over.
Anywhere within those ranges is considered “normal” because of wide variations as children enter and go through puberty. Some children enter puberty as early as eight, while others only begin in their teens.
To give an idea of how much puberty can influence a teen’s weight, consider that a child will grow as much as ten inches and gain muscle, bone, and fat within a couple of years. Puberty often goes hand in hand with weight gain as these changes occur.
For 13-year-olds, there is a vast range of “normal” weights, heights, shapes, and sizes.
Should A 13-Year-Old Go On A Diet?
Always consult a doctor before embarking on a weight-loss plan or putting your child on a weight-loss program.
Putting your teen on a diet or a teen undertaking a diet without medical supervision can be mentally and physically unhealthy.
In terms of mental health, teens need to learn that having a healthy body doesn’t equate to a specific shape or size.
Furthermore, teenagers are still growing, and restrictive or yo-yo diets can play havoc with their growing and changing bodies. A healthy eating plan should take the form of safe, long-term diet and lifestyle changes, not a short-term intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Average Weight For A 13-Year-Old?
The average weight of a 13-year-old girl is 101lb. However, a healthy 13-year-old girl can weigh anything between 76 and 148lb, depending on height and stage of puberty.
For boys, the average weight of a 13-year-old is 100lb. Healthy 13-year-old boys weigh between 75 and 145lb.
What Is Underweight For A 13-Year-Old?
According to BMI percentiles, a 13-year-old can be classified as underweight if they fall under the fifth percentile.
So, an underweight 13-year-old girl will weigh under 76lb, and an underweight boy will weigh under 75lb.
However, a doctor needs to determine whether a teen is a healthy weight, taking height, weight, sex, and puberty stage into consideration. Your doctor will advise whether the teen must eat more calories and how to go about this.
How Can A 13-Year-Old Lose Weight?
If your doctor advises that a 13-year-old needs to lose weight, they will suggest decreasing calories and increasing physical activity.
Effective changes include reducing added sugar and processed foods, eating whole, nutritious foods, and getting enough exercise.
What Is Overweight For A 5’4 13-Year-Old Girl?
A 13-year-old girl is considered overweight if her BMI falls above the 85th percentile.
On average, a 13-year-old girl will be classified as overweight if she is heavier than 133lb. However, because 5’4 is relatively tall for a 13-year-old, she could healthily weigh between 105 and 144lb.
Conclusion
To calculate a healthy weight for an individual 13-year-old, use a BMI tool, as there is a wide range of possible weights for boys and girls this age.
