Weight & Height For the Average American Woman

Factors of Height

Both genetics and environment are key factors in determining an individual woman’s height. In general, if your parents are tall, you are also likely to be tall. But the environmental factors present during your childhood development also influenced your adult height. Diet is particularly important in influencing height, as lack of nutrition during development can lead to growth stunts. This is particularly evident in countries where the population has risen quickly in average height; this change in average height tends to correspond with a change in national dietary habits.

Factors of Weight

While some people are predisposed genetically to a specific body type, environment also plays a significant role in a woman’s weight. The concept of calories in vs. calories out can help individuals understand why excess weight may be stored; if you are eating more calories than you are expending, a storage of these calories in the form of fat may occur, leading to a heavier body. The American diet has changed to emphasize foods higher in calories, simple carbohydrates and fat, reflecting the increase in the average weight on an American woman.

Height and Health

In evolutionary psychology and other fields of science, scientists use height as an indicator of health. The reasons for this are multifold, but include genetics. If you lack the genetics necessary to fight diseases in your environment during development, your growth may be stunted. Environment is another factor as a lack of proper nutrition may deplete the energy needed for you to reach your full potential for height. Satoshi Kanazawa, an evolutionary psychologist, states in his book "Why Beautiful People Have More Daughters," that correlational studies on height and other factors show that height can be an important indicator of overall health and genetic fitness. However, these models apply to the population as a whole, not an individual person.

Weight and Health

Weight and health are significantly correlated. When weight gain caused by excessive fat storage occurs, it increases the risk for chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. Thus, weight control is important to the American woman, whose average weight has slowly approached unhealthy levels. Because height and muscle mass are confounding factors in using weight to predict health, doctors use BMI and fat percentages as measurements instead of weight alone.