Best weight for a 63 year old man with large frame and 5'9"

1. How “ideal weight” is usually calculated — and why frame size matters

Common quick methods include BMI and formulaic “ideal body weight” equations; for men a widely used IBW formula starts at 106 lb for 5 ft and adds about 6 lb per inch, with guidance to add 10% for a large frame — for 5'9" that yields roughly 176 lb after the large‑frame adjustment (IBW 160 lb ×1.10 ≈176 lb) ^[1]. Those charts are practical starting points but were not designed to capture age‑related changes in muscle mass, fat distribution or functional capacity ^{[1] [6]}.

2. What geriatric and research literature says about BMI targets for older adults

Several gerontology reviews and studies argue that the BMI range considered “optimal” shifts upward with age because lower BMI in older adults can reflect frailty and loss of muscle; some experts propose an ideal BMI for older adults in the mid‑20s (about 25–27), while other geriatric analyses find functional outcomes are best in a broader BMI window of roughly 25–35 kg/m2 ^{[2] [3]}. Applying a BMI of 25–27 to a height of 5'9" corresponds to roughly 169–183 pounds, and the wider 25–35 BMI band spans about 169–237 pounds for the same height — illustrating both conservative and permissive geriatric perspectives ^{[2] [3]}.

3. Reconciling IBW and geriatric BMI for a man with a large frame

Combining the large‑frame IBW estimate (~176 lb) with the geriatric BMI suggestion (≈169–183 lb) produces a tight practical target of about 170–180 lb for many large‑framed men at 5'9" — a range that sits squarely in both methods’ overlap and respects concerns about sarcopenia and functional ability in older adults ^{[1] [2] [3]}. This overlap is not an absolute prescription but a pragmatic starting point for clinical conversations and goal‑setting.

4. Important complicating factors to weigh beyond a number on the scale

“Healthy weight” is not a single figure: age, body composition (muscle vs. fat), waist circumference, mobility, chronic disease and medication effects all change what weight is healthiest for a specific person; authoritative sources caution that there is no one‑size‑fits‑all ideal and that tools like BMI have limits, especially in older adults and in people with higher muscle mass ^{[4] [6] [7]}. Clinicians typically use CDC BMI calculators and, for seniors, geriatric‑specific assessments alongside labs and functional tests to guide individualized plans ^{[5] [8]}.

5. How to act on this target — practical next steps and caveats

Use the 170–180 lb range as a discussion anchor with a primary care clinician or geriatrician who can evaluate strength, gait, waist circumference and metabolic markers, and order appropriate tests if weight loss or gain is observed without explanation ^{[4] [5]}. Public tables and averages can be misleading — population averages may exceed healthy ranges and do not substitute for a clinician’s judgment tailored to comorbidities and physical function ^{[9] [7]}.

6. Alternative viewpoints and limits of the available reporting

Some authorities stress that “ideal weight” is a shaky concept and that focusing on fitness, muscle preservation and metabolic health is superior to chasing an exact pound target ^[6]. The sources summarized here provide overlapping but not identical recommendations — geriatric research supporting higher BMI for function ^[3], IBW calculators that adjust for frame size ^[1] and mainstream health outlets that emphasize individualized assessment ^{[4] [5]}. Reporting limitations include absence of the user’s clinical details (medications, chronic illness, body composition), which prevents a definitive prescription from these sources alone.