It is widely used in the medical field as a quick indicator of possible health complications. Based on the BMI range, it is possible to find out a healthy weight for any given height.īMI is a commonly used metric for determining IBW. The World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended healthy BMI range is 18.5 - 25 for both males and females. Over time, the formula became a universal determinant of IBW. Similar to the Hamwi Formula, it was originally intended as a basis for medicinal dosages based on weight and height. The Devine formula is the most widely used formula for the measurement of IBW. The formulas differ in the values used based on the research of the scientists involved in their development, and their findings.

For example, if you are a 5'10' male estimating your ideal weight with the Devine formula, you would add (2.3 × 10) kg to 50 kg to get 73 kg, or ~161 lbs. All of the formulas have the same format of a base weight given a height of 5 feet with a set weight increment added per inch over the height of 5 feet. IBW formulas were developed mainly to facilitate drug dosage calculations.

Medium boned = wrist size 6.25' to 6.5'Ī person who is large boned will naturally weigh more than someone who is small boned, even at the same height, making body frame size a factor that can affect measurements such as IBW and BMI.

Small boned = wrist size less than 6.25'.

Medium boned = wrist size 5.5' to 5.75'.

Small boned = wrist size less than 5.5'.

It is measured based on the circumference of a person's wrist in relation to their height, as shown below. Body frame size is typically categorized as small, medium, or large boned. A male at a similar height to a female should weigh about 10-20% heavier.īody frame size is another factor that can have a significant impact on the measurement of ideal weight. The taller the person, the more muscle mass and body fat they have, which results in more weight. Last but not least, males tend to be taller than females. Not only that, but women generally have lower bone density.

This is because the male body generally has higher muscle mass, and muscle is heavier than fat. Generally, females weigh less than males even though they naturally have a higher percentage of body fat. This is a natural process, though it is possible to lessen the effects of aging by adopting various habits such as monitoring diet, exercise, stress, and sleep. It is important to remember that as people age, lean muscle mass decreases and it is easier to accumulate excess body fat. It is actually expected that human males and females lose 1.5 and 2 inches in height respectively by age 70. In theory, age shouldn't be a large determinant of an IBW past the ages of 14-15 for girls and 16-17 for boys, after which most people stop growing. Other factors include health conditions, fat distribution, progeny, etc. That being said, many factors can affect the ideal weight the major factors are listed below. than it is to chase a specific weight based on a generalized formula. They are only references, and it's more important to adhere to making healthy life choices such as regular exercise, eating a variety of unprocessed foods, getting enough sleep, etc. Thus far, there is no measure, be it IBW, body mass index (BMI), or any other that can definitively state how much a person should weigh to be healthy. It is highly dependent on each individual.

How much a person should weigh is not an exact science. This is why IBW should be considered with the perspective that it is an imperfect measure and not necessarily indicative of health, or a weight that a person should necessarily strive toward it is possible to be over or under your 'IBW' and be perfectly healthy. This means that it is possible for highly fit, healthy athletes to be considered overweight based on their IBW. It does not consider the percentages of body fat and muscle in a person's body. Note that IBW is not a perfect measurement. Today, IBW is also used widely throughout sports, since many sports classify people based on their body weight. It has since been determined that the metabolism of certain drugs is more based on IBW than it is total body weight. Although ideal body weight (IBW) today is sometimes based on perceived visual appeal, IBW was actually 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.

This is largely due to the perception of an 'ideal' body weight, which is often based on what we see promoted through various media such as social media, TV, movies, magazines, etc. Most everyone has at some point tried to lose weight, or at least known somebody who has. Related BMI Calculator | Body Fat Calculator | Calorie Calculator

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