Home
Back
Ideal Body Weight Formula:
| From: | To: |
Ideal Body Weight (IBW) is an estimate of how much a person should weigh based on their height and sex. It's commonly used in medical settings for medication dosing, nutritional assessment, and determining healthy weight ranges.
The calculator uses the Devine formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates ideal weight based on the assumption that for each inch over 5 feet (60 inches), an additional 2.3 kg should be added to a base weight that differs by sex.
Details: IBW is important for determining appropriate medication dosages, assessing nutritional status, setting weight goals, and evaluating whether a person is underweight, normal weight, or overweight.
Tips: Enter your height in inches and select your sex. The calculator will provide your estimated ideal body weight in kilograms.
Q1: How accurate is the ideal body weight calculation?
A: IBW provides a general estimate but doesn't account for factors like muscle mass, bone density, or body composition. It should be used as a guideline rather than an absolute measure.
Q2: Can I use this calculator if I'm under 5 feet tall?
A: The formula is designed for adults 5 feet (60 inches) and taller. For shorter individuals, consult with a healthcare provider for appropriate weight assessment.
Q3: How does IBW differ from BMI?
A: IBW provides a single target weight based on height and sex, while BMI calculates a ratio of weight to height squared and categorizes results into underweight, normal, overweight, and obese ranges.
Q4: Should athletes use IBW calculations?
A: Athletes with higher muscle mass may weigh more than their IBW without being overweight. Body composition analysis may be more appropriate for athletes.
Q5: How can I convert the result to pounds?
A: Multiply the kilogram result by 2.2046 to convert to pounds (1 kg = 2.2046 lbs).