Why the 10-Kilo Waistline Rule Is Outdated: New Calculations Reveal Why

It was a common belief that being 10 kilograms lighter than your height in centimeters was the key to good health, but it has been widely proven that figuring out your ideal weight isn’t that straightforward. A nutritionist confirms this.

On Instagram, Claire.happydiet shares her nutritional expertise with her 240,000 followers. Through her videos, she challenges long-held misconceptions about weight. She specifically targets the myth of the ideal weight. For years, your grandmother, your friend, and even your doctor might have told you that to find your ideal weight, just subtract 10 kilograms from your height in centimeters. For example, if you are 170 cm tall, you should weigh exactly 60 kilograms. However, this simple formula is not sufficient. In her video, the professional firmly states, “We can no longer afford to perpetuate such myths.” Why?

First, because we are all different. A heavily muscled athlete might weigh 83 kilograms at a height of 180 cm and be in perfect health. Moreover, our body weight changes constantly: during a single day, it can fluctuate based on what you’ve eaten, how much exercise you’ve done, and your digestive process. The nutritionist emphasizes, “The ideal weight is not defined by a precise number. Your ideal weight, or weights, as there may be several throughout your life, is the one at which you are in good physical and mental health.“

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Therefore, psychological well-being is as important as the number on the scale. Weighing 50 kilograms at a height of 160 cm might be fine, but if it requires extreme dieting and three hours of exercise daily to maintain, it could lead to depression.

So, what should you rely on? The only truly useful measure is the Body Mass Index (BMI). Its advantage is that it provides not just a single damning figure, but a range. It is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared, and the normal range extends from 18.5 to 25. This means a person who is 170 cm tall is considered healthy weighing anywhere between 53 and 72 kilograms, which can alleviate some pressure.

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However, it’s important to remember that BMI does not differentiate between muscle and fat mass, nor does it consider individual body types: it offers a guideline, not a verdict. The real judge should be how you feel: the ideal weight is the one that allows you to eat enjoyably, move freely, and feel comfortable in your own skin.