I am 5'3".. I weigh 165 lbs. I wear a size 10... I measure 42-32-40... no one believes me when I say how heavy I am. My BMI is at 29.5 or thereabouts. I want to know if I am average... I am pretty active, spinning class once a week, ellipticals three times a week, weights every other day. Numbers don't lie but they can be confusing. Please help!

Geez.. no safe way to answer this.

Whats average? Average weight for you national population? In America you might be a few lbs under!

There's no such thing as an average ideal though. Forget the word average. Concentrate on how you feel about your weight. And numbers do indeed lie when it comes to health and fitness!

BMI doesnt mean anything. Body builders are obese? You can't get it from just height and weight. You need to calculate body fat more accurately.

But are you muscular? Tone? You're the head judge.

If you do think your body fat is a little high, just keep up the aerobics. Quickest way to burn it.

well according to Bmi, you are overweight, but i dont think you should consider BMI, as you could have more muscle mass than fat, and muscle weight more than fat.

i am 5,9 and i weight 130 pounds and i am measurments 34C-24.5-33, i would like to be 120-125 pounds do you think thats healthy for me, people tell me that i dont need to lose weight and im skinny and if i become any lower i would be underweight, but i feel like i need to lose weight.

it depends on so many things, your age-if you are still growing, your build.........
i am also 5'3" but weight 114.....and I have plenty of soft fat around my stomach, but very toned legs and arms.
i could/should probably weigh less, but i'm petite and anyway, i'm 40 years old and i'm not growing anymore!

Find out what your body fat is before you start jumping to conclusions...You may believe that you're heavy, and be gloomy when you step on the scales, but you might just be a little fireplug of strength: solid and muscular. A favorite thing of mine I say: There are quarterhorses and Clydesdales, and shetland ponies, in the horse world, and in the human world. Many body types. Not every person can be slim. What is more important than the number on the scale is your general health and energy levels, and if you can get through a long day of work and spring back the next day with vigor.

This is an interesting letter. Could you tell us why you have that ambition to weigh only 120-125 at 5'9? Because that is pretty small. In fact for someone to have a waist less than 25" at your height...is pretty amazing. Listen to the feedback from your friends. Is someone making you feel bad about yourself? Are you a perfectionist, obsessed with your weight? (Just some things to think about!) Yes, being that small would put you underweight for your height, and you might not feel your best, or stay at that weight for any length of time if you starved yourself down to it....

the thing is i would never starve myself, i dont want to have an eating disorder, i admit i have been obsessed with my weight and figure for some time, i dont want it to turn in anoerexia if i do lose weight i do it the right way -eating healthy and exercise