What many people have trouble accepting is the set-point theory. Set-point is the weight range in which your body is programmed to weigh and will fight to maintain that weight. Everyone has a set-point and just like you have no control over how tall you will be, or what color your eyes and hair will be, you also have no control over what your set-point will be. Your body is biologically and genetically determined to weigh within a certain weight range.
Everyone that has ever tried dieting knows just how hard it is to lose weight and keep it off. In the first few weeks of dieting, weight is usually lost, but almost always gained back. Many people become frustrated because after a few weeks of dieting, they usually stop losing weight or start gaining it back, even though they are still restricting their food intake. That is a sign that the body is trying to fight to retain its natural weight.
What happens is this: when you go below your body's natural set-point, your metabolism will react and start to slow down to try and conserve energy. Your body will start to sense it's in a state of semi-starvation and will try to use the few calories it receives more effectively. You may start to sleep more, your body temperature will drop, which is why you hear so many anorexics complaining of being so cold, and after too much weight loss many women experience the loss of their menstrual cycle. Basically their reproductive system shuts down because their bodies probably could not handle a pregnancy. Many people that are dieting also experience uncontrollable urges to binge. That is because your body is telling you that it needs more food than you are providing it to function properly. All of this shows how the body is fighting to maintain its predetermined weight range.
Just as your metabolism will slow down when you go under your body's set-point, it will also increase if you go above it. The body will try to fight against the weight gain by increasing the metabolism and raising the body's temperature to try and burn off the unwanted calories. That is why NO food will make you fat, as long as it is eaten moderately.
It is not easy to accept the fact that you must gain weight. You have been 'in control' for all this time, and you fear that when you start to eat normally again, you will not only gain weight, you won't stop. But that is NOT TRUE. When you decide you are going to stop listening to the Anorexia, and start eating the way you should, you won't just keep gaining weight forever. It will take your body a while, but it will return to that give set-point. And you won't have to do anything to keep it there. You don't have to go hungry and you don't have to exercise excessively. All you need to do is eat normally.
At first, the weight will go mostly to your stomach, thighs... exactly those areas where you don't want it to go. That's the bad news. The good news is that it will take some time, but it will spread out more evenly again. It will, I promise. So try not to worry too much about that.

There is no test available to conveniently tell you what your body's natural set-point is. The best way to determine what it is, is eating normally and exercising moderately. If you have been restricting your food intake for years, it can take up to a year of normal eating for your body's metabolism to function properly and return you to the weight range that is healthy for you. Nobody can tell you exactly what your set-point is.
I can give you a general idea of what a healthy weight would be for you, based on your length, though.
A visitor to this site pointed out to me that weight charts such as this are supposed to be universal, applicable to people from different races and cultures. This means that both smaller built people and larger built people are included. Consider this an extra warning that these charts only give you a general idea of a healthy weight based on your length!
I want you to know that I have given the question whether or not it would be smart to include this a lot of thought. Many of you have asked me what a normal weight would be for you. Many of you don't have a clue as to what a normal weight is, and don't know that you are actually underweight. This schedule can give you a general idea of what your goal should be. On the other hand, I don't want to be the cause of somebody deciding to stop eating because their weight is higher than indicated. I know you can find charts like this all over the internet, but still... After careful consideration, however, I decided to include it anyway, with an explanation and a warning.
If you have any questions, want to verify something, or feel this should definitely not be included on this site, please let me know.

All you need to know for this is your length: look it up in this table, and you will get an approximation of what a normal weight is for your length. Remember that this is not set in stone. Set-points are different for everyone; just like the amount of food you need each day. I do hope it gives you some idea of what a healthy weight would be for you. Please remember that your weight doesn't determine who you are.
If your weight is somewhat higher than indicated: don't worry. It doesn't mean you are overweight. As long as you eat normally and exercise moderately, you are at your natural weight, your set-point, and it's not necessary to lose any weight. If you want to lose weight anyway, don't think it's okay for you to stop eating altogether because you're not underweight. It's never all right, in fact it's dangerous, to stop eating altogether or to suddenly lose a lot of weight. If you feel you must lose weight, be smart about it; get advice from a dietitian. Also, this doesn't automatically mean that you do not have an eating disorder, you can have an eating disorder at any weight.
When your weight is within these guidelines, you are okay... where weight is concerned. This doesn't mean that you are overreacting and do not have an eating disorder, you can have an eating disorder at any weight. It does not mean you can stop eating altogether to lose weight either, because that is bad for you no matter what weight you are at. All it means is that you have a healthy weight, which will make it easier for you to fight this eating disorder. After all, you don't HAVE TO gain weight. It's okay if you do, but you don't absolutely have to, which saves you a fight. Also, when you have a healthy weight, your body can use the energy it gets for thinking instead of for gaining weight, which makes it easier to fight your anorexic thoughts, and to deal with your emotions.
You should worry, however, when your weight is lower than indicated. There is a certain weight that everybody needs in order to function properly. When you are underweight, you are doing a lot of damage to your body, and if it goes too far you can even die. It's nothing to be proud of if you lost so much that you are in danger, just the opposite. It's important that you gain some weight, to at least reach that minimum. If you do, that's something to be proud of.

Length (ft, inch) Weight (lbs) 5'1'' 106 - 132 5'2'' 109 - 137 5'3'' 113 - 141 5'4'' 117 - 146 5'5'' 120 - 150 5'6'' 124 - 155 5'7'' 128 - 160 5'8'' 132 - 164 5'9'' 135 - 169 5'10'' 139 - 174 5'11'' 143 - 179 6'1'' 152 - 189 6'2'' 156 - 195 6'3'' 160 - 200

Length (meters) Weight (kilos) 1.55 48 - 60 1.56 49 - 61 1.57 49 - 62 1.58 50 - 62 1.59 51 - 63 1.60 51 - 64 1.61 52 - 65 1.62 52 - 66 1.63 53 - 66 1.64 54 - 67 1.65 54 - 68 1.66 55 - 69 1.67 56 - 70 1.68 56 - 71 1.69 57 - 71 1.70 58 - 72 1.71 58 - 73 1.72 59 - 74 1.73 60 - 75 1.74 61 - 76 1.75 61 - 77 1.76 62 - 77 1.77 63 - 78 1.78 63 - 79 1.79 64 - 80 1.80 65 - 81 1.81 66 - 82 1.82 66 - 83 1.83 67 - 84 1.84 68 - 85 1.85 68 - 86 1.86 69 - 86 1.87 70 - 87 1.88 71 - 88 1.89 71 - 89 1.90 72 - 90