Determine Your Body Frame Size
Measure your wrist to determine if you have a small, medium, or large body frame. Affects ideal weight ranges.
Why Body Frame Matters
People with larger bone structures naturally weigh more at the same height — and that is perfectly healthy. A large-framed 5'8" person may weigh 15-20 lbs more than a small-framed person at the same height while having the same body fat percentage. Frame size adjusts ideal weight ranges by approximately ±10%, making weight goals more realistic and personalized.
Measuring Your Frame
Wrap a tape measure around your wrist just below the wrist bone (the bony bump). Women: Under 5.5" = small, 5.5-6.5" = medium, over 6.5" = large. Men: Under 6.5" = small, 6.5-7.5" = medium, over 7.5" = large. Wrist circumference correlates with overall bone structure because the wrist has minimal fat and muscle — it primarily measures bone size.
Body frame size is genetically determined and does not change with weight loss or gain. This is why two people of identical height and body fat percentage can look very different — one may have wider shoulders, thicker bones, and a broader ribcage. Comparing your weight to someone with a different frame size is meaningless.
