Ideal Weight Calculator
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What Is Ideal Body Weight?
Ideal body weight is a clinical estimate of the weight at which a person of a given height is likely to be healthiest. Our calculator uses the Devine formula, one of the most widely referenced formulas in clinical medicine, originally developed for drug dosage calculations.
How the Devine Formula Works
The formula calculates a baseline ideal weight and provides a healthy range of plus or minus 10 percent to account for individual variation in body frame and composition.
Real-World Examples
- A man who is 178 cm (5’10”) tall has an ideal weight of approximately 73.1 kg (161 lbs), with a healthy range of 65.8 to 80.4 kg.
- A woman who is 165 cm (5’5”) tall has an ideal weight of approximately 57.2 kg (126 lbs), with a healthy range of 51.5 to 62.9 kg.
Limitations
The Devine formula does not account for muscle mass, body fat percentage, or ethnic differences. Athletes and individuals with significant muscle mass may have a healthy weight well above the calculated ideal. Use this as a general reference alongside other metrics like BMI and body fat percentage.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How is ideal weight calculated?
- Our calculator uses the Devine formula (1974): for men, ideal weight = 50 + 2.3 × (height in inches - 60). For women, ideal weight = 45.5 + 2.3 × (height in inches - 60). A healthy range of ±10% is also provided.
- Is ideal weight the same for everyone of the same height?
- No. The Devine formula provides a general estimate. Actual ideal weight varies based on body composition, muscle mass, bone structure, and individual health factors.