When children are 17 years old, their bodies might still undergo changes. So, what is the average weight for 17 year olds? Let’s dig into this article to find it out.
The adolescent years are usually considered a roller coaster because you adjust to all the variations your body is undergoing. Too much emotional, physical, and mental development all happen at the same time. As your child’s body grows and changes, you may be wondering what the average weight for 17 year olds should be.
The average or healthy weight for a 17-year-old teen is determined based on the BMI result from the 5th to 85th percentiles. This number is based on the growth charts of the CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
For example, if your 17-year-old teen boy, who is 69 inches tall, will be considered as a reasonable weight from 56 to 76 kilograms (or 120 to 168 pounds). 17-year-old girls who are 64 inches should have an average weight between 45 and 66 kilograms (or 100 to 146 pounds). It should be noted that teens of different ages and heights should also be sorted into various categories.
It might seem quite simple. However, doctors have to collect a lot more health data to decide whether someone is healthy or not. For the trends in a teenager’s growth over the years, it is suggested to follow the growth percentile charts and BMI.
Keep reading to figure out what elements decide a healthy and average weight for 17 year olds.
What is a Healthy Weight for a 17-Year Old?
Healthy body weight is defined as a BMI of from the 5th to 85th percentiles. Nevertheless, because each person’s physique is unique, there is no “ideal” weight for all 17-year-old teenagers.
Based on the result from the BMI-for-age percentiles, a healthy weight for a 17-year-old teen boy at 5 feet 9 inches tall should be from 120 to 168 lbs (or 56 to 67 kg). For 17-year-old teen girls at 5 feet 4 inches tall, this range should be from 100 t0 146 lbs (or 45 to 66 kg).
Here are the weight charts for 17-year-old teens:
Body weight percentile chart for 17 year-old-tee boys
| Percentile | Weight (lbs) | Weight (kg) |
| 3rd | 22.4 lbs | 49.3 kg |
| 5th | 23 lbs | 50.8 kg |
| 10th | 23 lbs | 53.3 kg |
| 25th | 26.4 lbs | 58.2 kg |
| 50th | 29.4 lbs | 64.7 kg |
| 75th | 33 lbs | 72.8 kg |
| 90th | 37.2 lbs | 82.1 kg |
| 95th | 40.3 lbs | 88.8 kg |
| 97th | 42.5 lbs | 93.8 kg |
See also: https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/data/set1clinical/cj41c021.pdf
Body weight percentile chart for 17 year-old-tee girls
| Percentile | Weight (lbs) | Weight (kg) |
| 3rd | 19.6 lbs | 43.3 kg |
| 5th | 20.1 lbs | 44.4 kg |
| 10th | 21 lbs | 46.3 kg |
| 25th | 22.7 lbs | 50 kg |
| 50th | 25 lbs | 55.2 kg |
| 75th | 28.2 lbs | 62.3 kg |
| 90th | 32.5 lbs | 71.6 kg |
| 95th | 36 lbs | 79.5 kg |
| 97th | 39 lbs | 86.2 kg |
See also: https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/data/set1clinical/cj41l022.pdf
What Impacts the Average Weight of a 17-Year-Old Teen?
It is widely believed that regular exercise and reasonable eating habits play an important role in determining a healthy weight for a 17-year-old teenager. Yes, these are the basic and crucial things, but they are not enough. Several critical factors, in this case, can be sleep quality, anxiety, genetics, medicines, etc.
As you might know, mental health is really important for 17-year-old teens as they are in the period of fast growing up. When they suffer from stress or pressure, their hunger can be affected a lot, resulting in the feeling of overeating. What’s more, it even impacts the way fat is stored in your 17-year-old teen’s body.
At the age of 17, teens might need good sleep quality as it can affect their overall weight. In addition, sleep is considered the crucial source for the everyday energy needs of your body. For 17-year-old teens, sleeping 8-10 hours every night will be good for their health.
Genetics might also be an important element as it can affect your 17-year-old teen’s healthy weight. And the last elements for weight changes in teens of this age could be chronic illness, medicines, medical issues, etc.
Should a 17-Year-Old Teen Be on a Diet?
Teens at the age of 17 are still developing and growing. So, they should have a healthy diet where they can get enough nutrients. Any restriction on certain foods or a strict diet should not be applied to them. Reducing calories and cutting out foods can result in a shortage of major nutrients during this growth stage. What’s more, your teens tend to overeat if you limit certain food groups on their daily diet.
In case your child seems to be overweight, it is necessary to consult their doctor for reasons as well as appropriate solutions.
So, When Should a 17-Year Old Teen Lose Weight?
In any period of human beings, it is more important to slow down the body weight gain instead of losing weight improperly. And for 17-year-old teens, this is also true. But there are always some specific exclusions. Just make sure your child loses weight under the instructions of their doctor or dietitian.
During this time, they may also undergo stress. Their body, height, and weight can also keep altering. As such, they might want to lose weight so that they can look and feel better in terms of appearance.
Again, building a good habit of eating and exercising is much more important than trying to lose weight or change their body. By doing this, their weight will stay within the healthy spectrum. At the end of the day, striking improvements in a 17-year-old teen’s health derive from a good outlook and taking care of the body, not from the hate for it.
Final Thoughts
The average weight for 17 year olds boys and girls is from 56 to 76 kilograms (or 120 to 168 pounds) and between 45 and 66 kilograms (or 100 to 146 pounds), respectively.
As a 17-year-old teen, learning how to take care of your mental, emotional, and physical health will put you ahead of those who didn’t learn that. When you practice combining healthy habits and respect for your body into your life, you can achieve a healthy weight that is good for your body. But more importantly, it helps you always feel full of energy and happiness.
