• Maintaining a healthy weight is a concern for many women.scale image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
  
  

Weight and Height Chart Standards

• Standardized charts used in the health care industry calculate approximately how much a person should weigh, on average, based on height and build. A light-framed woman measuring 5'6" should weigh between 120 and 133 pounds. A medium-framed woman should weigh 130 to 144 pounds and a large-framed woman should weigh 140 to 159 pounds. Frame size can be estimated based on elbow measurements.
  
  

Charts Are Only An Approximation

• Standardized charts are only estimates based on national averages; women weighing less or more than their chart heights indicate they should may not need to be concerned. Body Mass Index, or BMI, is often considered a more accurate estimation of overall health; it uses height and weight measurements to estimate body fat content in adults.
  
  

Bottom Line

• Standardized height and weight charts provide a good baseline for estimating a healthy weight for a 5'6" woman. However, these charts should not be fully relied upon, but used in conjunction with BMI calculations and physician consultations to determine healthy weights for individual women.