People nowadays have started using social media for their businesses. In fact, a recent study states that 37.6% of netizens globally use social networking platforms for work-related purposes. However, the popularity of social media has also made people more conscious about their looks.

Think about it. Nowadays, we want to look fit and healthy in our pictures on social media more than ever. Right? Well, if you have a similar goal, you should think about achieving the ideal weight according to your body type. And that's where this guide will come in handy.

Here, we'll list the elements that affect your ideal body weight. In addition to the numbers on the scale, we'll also discuss some hidden aspects that influence an individual's optimum weight the most. So, let's dive right in without any further ado.

On-The-Scale Factors Influencing Your Body's Ideal Weight

The term ‘on the scale' represents all the factors that are generally visible on BMI and growth charts. This type contains the following elements:

Age

One of the most prevalent factors influencing the ideal body weight is age. A younger human body frequently burns calories more efficiently, whereas older bodies often lose fats and muscle mass with age. This change directly impacts body weight, which is why people in their 20s and 60s have different weight ratings.

Height

Although less popular than age, height still straightforwardly affects the ideal body weight. For instance, people with more height have denser bones, a larger frame, and more muscle. All these things contribute to a higher body weight. That is why height is often considered a key component in BMI (Body Mass Index) calculation.

Gender

Men's and women's bodily compositions (such as bone, fat, muscle, and other tissues) differ mainly due to hormonal differences. For example, men generally carry more muscle and less fat, whereas women often have a higher body-fat ratio, especially around hips and thighs. That is why a man and a woman of the same age and height typically fall into different weight brackets.

Other Effective Hidden Factors that Affect a Body's Optimal Weight

Now that the on-the-scale factors are out of the picture, it's time to discuss the elements of the ‘beyond the scale' category. So, these are the four major factors that fall under the umbrella of this category:

Genetics

Genetics is one of the most overlooked ideal weight-influencing elements. They determine how quickly you burn your calories, how your body stores fat, and even the age bracket around which you'll gain or lose weight. This means that if you weigh more or less than others your age, it may be due to genetics. So, it is crucial to understand that the perfect weight for others your age may not be healthy or practical for you.

Medications

Medications have the most significant impact on a person's optimal body weight. That's because they often change your appetite, metabolism, or body water retention. For instance, certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, or corticosteroids are famous for leading to weight gain. However, medicines like GLP-1 agonists (used for diabetes) and stimulants (to treat ADHD) often result in weight loss. So, if you're on any kind of medication, the concepts of ideal weight calculation will be a bit different for you.

Muscle Mass

Just like the overall health conditions, muscle mass is a critical factor in determining the ideal body weight. For instance, muscles are generally denser than fat. Therefore, people with more muscle and a lesser body-fat ratio might weigh more. That's all because muscle building via strength training often leads to a metabolism boost, which in turn can help maintain a healthy weight.

Overall Health Conditions

Much like medicines, health issues also have a more significant influence on your ideal body weight. For instance, medical conditions like an active thyroid (hyperthyroidism) often lead to weight loss. In contrast, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) generally slows down the metabolism, which in turn results in weight gain. But that's just physical health. Some mental health conditions, like anxiety or depression, also affect the ideal body weight because they indirectly influence eating habits.

What Is the Best Way to Determine Your Ideal Body Weight?

Now that you've understood all the factors that impact a body's ideal weight, you may be curious whether you weigh perfectly according to the pre-specified criteria or not. If so, you should know that there are various ways to check that. For instance, you can use the BMI and growth charts to determine the ideal weight for your body. However, this method often leaves room for ambiguity, especially with decimal values. So, if you want a more accurate way to achieve the same goal, we recommend using an ideal weight calculator.

Such tools use algorithms to calculate the ideal body weight according to the specified values. So, even if you enter values with decimal points, you will still get accurate results. In fact, that's the primary reason people prefer using automated calculators instead of charts to get more precise results for their body type and take action accordingly.

Summing Up — Concluding Remarks

All in all, age, gender, and height are three main factors that affect a body's overall weight. But these three are on-the-scale numbers. And most people are aware of them. However, many don't know that body composition, genetics, muscle mass, physical activity level, medications, and overall health also influence ideal body weight. So, if you intend to achieve the perfect weight according to your body type, keep an eye on all these factors.