For someone 4 feet 11 inches tall (149.9 cm), a healthy weight is 41.5 to 55.9 kg by the WHO BMI range, or up to 51.4 kg by the Asian range used in India. Ideal body weight averages 49 kg for a man and 46 kg for a woman.
| Weight (kg) | Weight (lb) | BMI | WHO category | Asian category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35.9 kg | 79 lb | 16 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 38.2 kg | 84 lb | 17 | Underweight | Underweight |
| 41.5 kg | 92 lb | 18.5 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 44.9 kg | 99 lb | 20 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 47.2 kg | 104 lb | 21 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 49.4 kg | 109 lb | 22 | Healthy | Healthy |
| 51.7 kg | 114 lb | 23 | Healthy | Overweight |
| 53.9 kg | 119 lb | 24 | Healthy | Overweight |
| 56.1 kg | 124 lb | 25 | Overweight | Obese |
| 58.4 kg | 129 lb | 26 | Overweight | Obese |
| 61.8 kg | 136 lb | 27.5 | Overweight | Obese |
| 67.4 kg | 149 lb | 30 | Obese | Obese |
| 73 kg | 161 lb | 32.5 | Obese | Obese |
| 78.6 kg | 173 lb | 35 | Obese | Obese |
| 89.8 kg | 198 lb | 40 | Obese | Obese |
At 4 feet 11 inches, overweight starts at 56.1 kg (WHO) or 51.7 kg (Asian cut-off), and obesity at 67.4 kg (WHO) or 56.1 kg (Asian).
| Formula | Man | Woman |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 47.7 kg (105 lb) | 43.2 kg (95 lb) |
| Robinson (1983) | 50.1 kg (110 lb) | 47.3 kg (104 lb) |
| Miller (1983) | 54.8 kg (121 lb) | 51.7 kg (114 lb) |
| Hamwi (1964) | 45.3 kg (100 lb) | 43.3 kg (95 lb) |
| Average of the four | 49.5 kg (109 lb) | 46.4 kg (102 lb) |
Ideal body weight (IBW) formulas were designed for medicine doses, not as a target, and they ignore frame size and muscle. Use them alongside the healthy BMI range. Below 5 feet the formulas subtract weight for each inch under 5 feet and are less reliable.
Keep your waist under half your height: under 75 cm (29.5 inches) at 4'11". Waist-to-height ratio predicts heart and diabetes risk better than BMI alone, especially for South Asian adults.
| Waist-to-height | Waist at 4'11" | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Under 0.4 | under 60 cm | May be too slim |
| 0.4 – 0.49 | 60–73 cm | Healthy |
| 0.5 – 0.59 | 75–88 cm | Increased risk |
| 0.6 or more | 90 cm or more | High risk |
A healthy weight for a woman 4 feet 11 inches tall is 42–56 kg (BMI 18.5–24.9), or 42–51 kg for Asian women. Ideal body weight formulas give 43–52 kg.
A healthy weight for a man 4 feet 11 inches tall is 42–56 kg (BMI 18.5–24.9), or 42–51 kg for Asian men. Ideal body weight formulas give 45–55 kg.
At 150 cm, aim for 42–56 kg. Above 56 kg is overweight by WHO standards (52 kg by Asian standards).
4 feet 11 inches is 149.9 cm (59 inches × 2.54).