Is 150 lbs overweight for a woman at 5'6"?
No — 150 lbs is within the healthy range for 5'6" (for a woman).
At 150 lbs (68 kg) and 5'6" (167.6 cm) for a woman, the BMI is 24.2 — normal weight.
At 167.6 cm, the BMI-based healthy weight range spans 115 kg to 154 kg, with the midpoint considered the most statistically protective.
What the numbers mean for you
You have 5 lbs (2.2 kg) of headroom before crossing into overweight (BMI 25 = 155 lbs (70.2 kg)).
Your BMI band midpoint is BMI 21.7 (134 lbs (61.0 kg)), often used as the "most protective" reference in cohort studies.
Timelines assume ~7,700 kcal per kg of body fat. Real progress varies with muscle mass, adherence, and medications.
What this means
Multi-decade studies (notably the NIH-AARP cohort of more than 500,000 adults) link this BMI band to the lowest all-cause mortality.
Waist matters more than the scale
Two people can share the same BMI and have very different metabolic risk. For that reason, waist circumference is now considered a stronger predictor of cardiometabolic disease than BMI alone.
- Waist-to-height rule: keep your waist under half your height — that means below 84 cm (33") at 167.6 cm.
- Absolute cutoff for women: waist under 80 cm (31.5") is associated with meaningfully lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- Higher-risk zone: waist above 88 cm (35") — this is where risk climbs sharply regardless of BMI.
For women at 5'6"
BMI uses the same formula for both sexes, but health interpretation differs. Women typically carry a higher percentage of body fat at the same BMI than men. A waist circumference under 35 inches (88 cm) lowers cardiometabolic risk independent of BMI.
Precise ±5 lb neighbours at this height
| Weight | Conversion | BMI | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 145 lbs | 65.8 kg | 23.4 | Normal weight |
| 146 lbs | 66.2 kg | 23.6 | Normal weight |
| 147 lbs | 66.7 kg | 23.7 | Normal weight |
| 148 lbs | 67.1 kg | 23.9 | Normal weight |
| 149 lbs | 67.6 kg | 24.1 | Normal weight |
| 150 lbs ← this page | 68 kg | 24.2 | Normal weight |
| 151 lbs | 68.5 kg | 24.4 | Normal weight |
| 152 lbs | 68.9 kg | 24.5 | Normal weight |
| 153 lbs | 69.4 kg | 24.7 | Normal weight |
| 154 lbs | 69.9 kg | 24.9 | Normal weight |
| 155 lbs | 70.3 kg | 25.0 | Overweight |
Practical next steps
- Continue current habits; this BMI band is associated with the lowest health risk.
- Focus on protein intake (0.8–1 g per kg) and quality sleep.
- Track waist circumference rather than weight as you age.
- Annual labs are still worthwhile even at a healthy weight.
Frequently asked questions
Is 150 lbs overweight for a woman at 5'6"?
150 lbs at 5'6" gives a BMI of 24.2, which is normal weight. The healthy range for 5'6" is 115–154 lbs.
What is the healthy weight for 5'6"?
115–154 lbs.
What waist size is healthy for a woman at 5'6"?
Under 35 inches (88 cm) is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk.