Children experience a lot of changes physically and emotionally in their body around the age of 15, which is considered a golden age in one's growth. Among these changes, the changes in their weight and height are great and visible. This weight and height, which is always considered important in children, is compared against the average expected range, as determined by using different growth charts. Do not worry if you do not follow the expected trend because great changes may happen over a few days during puberty; you can though consult a physician for a better understanding and advice on health and growth.

Normal Weight and Height for a 15-Year-Old

1. The healthy weight for boys and girls

The ideal weight range is not the same for the boys and girls of the same age, especially when they are in their teenage years. There are some considerable differences change in the body shape and their developments. Girls tend to gain a lot of weight during their puberty because of larger hips and breasts.

There are charts that plot weight ranges per specific age which give you a general idea about the healthy weight for girls at their age of 15. The average weight for a 15-year-old girl is about 114 pounds. Girls weighing 86 pounds fall into the third and low end of the scale which is 3rd percentile. Girls with a weight of 168 pounds are in the 95th percentile and weight more than 95 % other girls of their own age.

On the other hand, the average weight for a 15-year-old boy is 126 pounds. Boys weighing more than 172 pounds are considered to be in the 95th percentile and weigh more than 95 percent boys of their age. Similarly, those weighing 90 pounds are considered in the third percentile as per the charts.

These are the average weight but it doesn't mean they are ideal for all the cases.

2. Normal height at 15 years old

Height is another important factor which determines how fast children are growing at their age of 15. The average height for the boys in America at the age of 15 is 67 inches or 5 feet 7 inches tall. Boys at 72 inches, which is 6 feet and a half inch, are taller than 97 percent of other boys of their age. The boys with a height of 61 inches are categorized into the third percentile.

The average height for the girls at the age of 15 is 64 inches or 5 feet 4 inches tall. A girl needs to be 69 inches tall to fall in the 97th percentile which means she is taller than 97 percent of girls of her age. The third percentile as per the charts is 59 inches or 4 feet and 11 inches tall.

There are different factors which directly impact the height, such as genetic factors and nutrition.

How to Calculate Height and Weight

What is the average weight for a 15-year-old? Is it mostly calculated using BMI? Doctors use the body mass index to determine whether a girl or boy is within the normal height and weight range. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in Kilograms by height in meters and then dividing the total with the height in meters once again.

The result is then looked up in charts which provide BMI for age percentiles for girls and boys. The normal weight and height are between 5th and 86th percentile. The normal BMI for an 18-year-old girl is between 17.6 and 25.6.

These BMI results are considered the standard for boys and girls but they are not exact in all the cases. BMI is surely a useful tool but it is not the only tool it only estimates the body fat.

For example, a girl with a good muscular body has a large frame than other and may not have that much body fat and has higher BMI, on the other hand, a small-framed girl with very little muscles could have a low BMI even though she has a higher amount of fat on her body than a healthy girl.

Practical Tips for Weight Maintenance

• Regular exercise

Regularly exercising is very important for the healthy growth of the body. Consistent physical activity helps in burning calories and building muscles. All the things which can increase your daily level of activity are important for you. You can go for a walk with your dog, cycling while going to school and other such things. These exercises will help to achieve average weight for a 15-year-old male.

• Vegetables and fruits

Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of minerals for healthy growth especially at the age of 15. They are also packed with fiber which helps you feel full all the time and hence reduce how much you eat.. Try to eat 5 servings of vegetables and fruits every day.

• Avoid excess screen time

People who spend most of their time in front of screens are mostly overweight. Set limits for yourself of the time you need to watch TV, playing video games, and using your computer, tablets, and phones. These things are harmful to you. You need to get enough sleep as well for healthy growth.

• Keep a scale

Sometimes big portions give you extra calories which ultimately cause weight gain. Juice drinks, sports drinks, sodas, and other sugary drinks contain many calories and cause obesity as well. Go for water and other low-fat milk instead of soda and keep an eye on your weight as well. If the numbers start to climb then trim them back or skip some portions.

Both normal weight and height of your teenage years are important. You can measure whether you are in the normal range using BMI calculators. However, these can be different as well due to constant changes in the body at the age of 15. You can use some tips as well to make sure you grow healthy without having any problems. For more insight into the topic of how much weight is good at 15 years, watch this video.