What Is Overweight for a 13 Year Old Girl? Understanding Healthy Ranges

Why Weight Isn't One-Size-Fits-All at 13

Adolescence is a wild ride — growth spurts, hormones, sudden height jumps. So yeah, asking “what is overweight for a 13 year old girl?” isn’t as straightforward as looking at a number on a scale.

Weight alone doesn't tell the full story. You’ve gotta factor in:

• Height

• Body composition

• Puberty stage

• Genetics (yes, thanks mom and dad)

One 13-year-old might weigh 130 lbs and be perfectly healthy if she’s tall and athletic. Another might weigh the same and be advised to watch it, depending on body fat percentage.

How Is “Overweight” Defined for Teens?

Using the BMI-for-age percentile chart

The most common method used by doctors is the Body Mass Index (BMI) — but for kids and teens, it’s not just a number. It’s compared to others of the same age and sex on a percentile chart from the CDC or WHO.

Here's how it breaks down:

• Underweight: below the 5th percentile

• Healthy weight: 5th to less than the 85th percentile

• Overweight: 85th to less than the 95th percentile

• Obese: 95th percentile and above

So... technically, a 13-year-old girl with a BMI-for-age percentile above the 85th mark would be considered overweight. But don’t freak out — it’s just a starting point, not a final judgment.

I remember my cousin being labeled “overweight” at 13, and honestly? She was just super strong from years of gymnastics. The BMI didn’t tell the full story.

Typical weight ranges (with caution)

For reference (and please take this with a grain of salt), the average weight for a 13-year-old girl is usually somewhere between 75–145 pounds (34–66 kg). That’s a big range, right? That’s because normal is a spectrum during growth years.

If a girl is on the higher end of that range and also shorter in height, doctors might explore further to see if she falls into the overweight percentile bracket.

Other Signs That Weight Might Be a Concern

Not just numbers — look at patterns

Doctors look at growth trends over time. Has there been a sudden spike in weight without height increasing too? That might be worth checking out.

They may also consider:

• Energy levels

• Eating habits

• Emotional well-being

• Menstrual cycle regularity (can be affected by body fat)

When to talk to a professional

If a teen (or their parents) are worried about weight, the best move is a visit to a pediatrician. They can run proper measurements and rule out anything medical (like thyroid stuff or hormonal issues).

Focusing on Health, Not Just the Scale

Let’s be real: weight talk can be sensitive, especially at 13. It’s a weird age where body image starts to get tangled up with self-worth. That’s why it’s crucial to shift the focus to overall health and not obsess over numbers.

Encouraging healthy habits

Instead of aiming for a certain weight, it’s way more helpful to build habits like:

• Eating regular, balanced meals (skip the extreme diets)

• Moving the body in fun ways — not punishment workouts

• Sleeping enough (super underrated)

• Drinking water (like, for real)

I used to count every calorie at 13... until I discovered that dancing for fun felt way better than dieting for a number. That was a game-changer.

Red flags to watch out for

On both ends of the spectrum, there are signs to take seriously:

• Extreme weight loss or gain

• Skipping meals or binge eating

• Anxiety around food or exercise

• Constant body checking or comparing

These could signal disordered eating or poor self-image, and deserve professional support.

Final Thoughts: It’s About the Whole Picture

So, what is overweight for a 13 year old girl? Technically, it’s defined using BMI-for-age percentiles, with 85th and above being the benchmark. But that’s not the full story — far from it.

Every body is different. What matters more is how a teen feels, grows, and functions, not just what the scale says.

And remember: the goal isn’t “thin.” It’s strong, balanced, confident, and well-fueled for life.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.