⚖️ Ideal Weight Calculator

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The ideal weight based on popular formulas:

How Much Should I Weigh?

Most everyone has at some point tried to lose weight, or at least known somebody who has. This is largely due to the perception of an "ideal" body weight, often based on what we see promoted through various media such as social media, TV, movies, magazines, etc. Although ideal body weight (IBW) today is sometimes based on perceived visual appeal, IBW was originally introduced to estimate dosages for medical use, and the formulas that calculate it are not at all related to how a person looks at a given weight. It has since been determined that the metabolism of certain drugs is more based on IBW than total body weight. Today, IBW is also widely used throughout sports, since many sports classify people based on their body weight.

Note that IBW is not a perfect measurement. It does not consider the percentages of body fat and muscle in a person's body. This means that highly fit, healthy athletes can be considered overweight based on their IBW. IBW should be considered as an imperfect measure and not necessarily indicative of health. It is possible to be over or under your IBW and still be perfectly healthy.

How much a person should weigh is not an exact science. It depends on many individual factors. There is no measure, whether IBW, BMI, or others, that can definitively state how much a person should weigh to be healthy. These are only references; it is more important to maintain healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, balanced nutrition, adequate sleep, and stress management.

Factors Affecting Ideal Weight

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Height
  • Body Frame Size
  • Health Conditions
  • Fat Distribution
  • Genetics

Age

In theory, age should not significantly affect IBW past adolescence (14-15 for girls, 16-17 for boys). As people age, lean muscle mass tends to decrease and body fat may increase, but these effects can be managed through lifestyle choices.

Gender

Generally, females weigh less than males even though they naturally have a higher percentage of body fat. This is due to higher muscle mass and bone density in males, along with taller average height.

Height

Taller individuals have more muscle mass and body fat, resulting in more weight. A male at a similar height to a female generally weighs 10-20% more.

Body Frame Size

Body frame size is typically categorized as small, medium, or large, and is based on wrist circumference relative to height.

For women:

  • Height under 5'2":
    • Small boned: wrist size < 5.5"
    • Medium boned: wrist size 5.5" - 5.75"
    • Large boned: wrist size > 5.75"
  • Height 5'2" - 5'5":
    • Small boned: wrist size < 6"
    • Medium boned: wrist size 6" - 6.25"
    • Large boned: wrist size > 6.25"
  • Height over 5'5":
    • Small boned: wrist size < 6.25"
    • Medium boned: wrist size 6.25" - 6.5"
    • Large boned: wrist size > 6.5"

For men:

  • Height over 5'5":
    • Small boned: wrist size 5.5" - 6.5"
    • Medium boned: wrist size 6.5" - 7.5"
    • Large boned: wrist size > 7.5"

Large boned individuals naturally weigh more than small boned individuals, even at the same height, making frame size an important factor for IBW and BMI.

Formulas for Finding the Ideal Weight

IBW formulas were originally developed to calculate medical dosages. They use a base weight at 5 feet of height, then add a weight increment per inch above 5 feet.

G. J. Hamwi Formula (1964)

  • Male: 48.0 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 feet
  • Female: 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 feet

B. J. Devine Formula (1974)

  • Male: 50.0 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
  • Female: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet

J. D. Robinson Formula (1983)

  • Male: 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 feet
  • Female: 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch over 5 feet

D. R. Miller Formula (1983)

  • Male: 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch over 5 feet
  • Female: 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch over 5 feet

Healthy BMI Range

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a healthy BMI range of 18.5 - 25 for both males and females. Higher BMI values are associated with increased risk of obesity-related health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and more. BMI is widely used by doctors as a quick health assessment tool.

Healthy BMI Range for Children

For children and teens, BMI is assessed using percentile charts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recommends that children maintain a BMI between the 5th and 85th percentile for their age group.

  • CDC BMI chart for boys ages 2-20
  • CDC BMI chart for girls ages 2-20

Limitations of our IBW Calculator

All formulas have limitations. They factor only height and gender, and do not consider physical disabilities, activity levels, or body composition. Our Ideal Weight Calculator should be used as a general guideline, not as a strict target weight.