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 it is possible for highly fit, healthy athletes to be considered overweight based on their IBW.

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.

How much a person should weigh is not an exact science. It is highly dependent on each individual. 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.

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.

than it is to chase a specific weight based on a generalized formula. That being said, many factors can affect the ideal weight; the major factors are listed below.

Other factors include health conditions, fat distribution, progeny, etc. In theory, age shouldn't be a large determinant of an IBW past the ages of for girls and for boys, after which most people stop growing.

It is actually expected that human males and females lose 1. It is important to remember that as people age, lean muscle mass decreases and it is easier to accumulate excess 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.

Generally, females weigh less than males even though they naturally have a higher percentage of body fat. This is because the male body generally has higher muscle mass, and muscle is heavier than fat.

Not only that, but women generally have lower bone density. Last but not least, males tend to be taller than females. The taller the person, the more muscle mass and body fat they have, which results in more weight.

Body frame size is another factor that can have a significant impact on the measurement of ideal weight. Body frame size is typically categorized as small, medium, or large boned. It is measured based on the circumference of a person's wrist in relation to their height, as shown below.

A 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.

IBW formulas were developed mainly to facilitate drug dosage calculations. 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.

For example, if you are a 5'10" male estimating your ideal weight with the Devine formula, you would add 2. The formulas differ in the values used based on the research of the scientists involved in their development, and their findings.

The Devine formula is the most widely used formula for the measurement of IBW. Similar to the Hamwi Formula, it was originally intended as a basis for medicinal dosages based on weight and height.

Over time, the formula became a universal determinant of IBW. As well as measuring your BMI, healthcare professionals may take other factors into account when assessing if you're a healthy weight.

Muscle is much denser than fat, so very muscular people, such as heavyweight boxers, weight trainers and athletes, may be a healthy weight even though their BMI is classed as obese. Your ethnic group can also affect your risk of some health conditions. For example, adults of South Asian origin may have a higher risk of some health problems, such as diabetes, with a BMI of 23, which is usually considered healthy.

You should not use BMI as a measure if you're pregnant. Get advice from your midwife or GP if you're concerned about your weight. Page last reviewed: 28 November Next review due: 28 November Home Common health questions Lifestyle Back to Lifestyle.

What is the body mass index BMI?

The values in the charts are estimates and may not consider factors like muscle mass or health conditions that affect weight. Despite being a flawed measure, BMI is widely used today in the medical community because it is an inexpensive and quick method for analyzing potential health status and outcomes.

The traditional ideal weight calculation is a rule of thumb rather than based on health research or a comprehensive study of population averages. These equations were developed for use by doctors to calculate drug dosages.

They tend to overestimate ideal weight at shorter heights and underestimate it at taller heights. However, a study found that the results correlate well with the body mass index of 21 for women and The authors of the study suggest a different equation using body mass index.

The healthy BMI range is the same for men and women, so the results apply to both. The healthy normal weight range is a BMI between The biggest differences between the older equations and the newer equation come in the taller height range. Also, the ideal for women is the same as for men when using BMI, and the new equation allows a few pounds more at each height for women than the older charts.

You can be healthy in a wide range of weights, but being underweight is associated with poor health outcomes and higher mortality for some conditions, as is being far above the healthy BMI range. If your weight is above that of the ideal for your height on the charts, it is tempting to think that it is because you are lean but very muscular.

This may be true in some cases, but most people usually weigh more because they have more body fat. Your body mass index, calculated from your height and weight, is commonly used by health authorities to assess if you are overweight or obese. Very muscular people may have a higher body mass index while still having low body fat.

Meanwhile, people who have lost and replaced muscle mass with fat may appear to have a normal BMI when they have too much body fat and insufficient muscle for good health outcomes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends using both the BMI and your waist circumference to determine whether you are at a healthy weight.

According to the CDC, a waist over 35 inches for non-pregnant women and over 40 inches for men indicates a higher risk of obesity-related conditions.

One factor of why you may way more or less is based on bone structure. Those with thicker, more dense bones will naturally tend to weigh more than those with thinner, less dense bones at the same body composition levels.

You can take your body frame size into account, if you choose, by measuring your wrist. After determining your frame size, you can factor that into equations to determine your ideal body weight IBW.

If you're wondering what your ideal weight is based on your height, this chart which is based on the updated equations, can help. There are other ways to measure a healthy weight and whether you have increased body fat. You can find your BMI with a simple calculator using your weight and height.

It will then characterize your BMI as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. Your body fat percentage is not the same as your BMI.

This measurement is often used to assess whether you are gaining muscle or losing fat. The healthy ranges are different for men and women. There are a variety of ways to measure it, including using a body fat scale that uses bioelectrical impedance.

We've researched and reviewed the best body fat monitors. If you're in the market for a monitor or scale, explore which option may be best for you. Finding the ideal weight for children and teens up to age 20 is not as simple. The equations for body mass index are different from those of adults.

This can be done with a calculator on the CDC's website. Then the result is compared to a percentile chart based on age. Normal weight is a BMI between the 5th percentile and the 85th percentile. The CDC has a weight for stature table in kilograms based on age.

Being at the ideal weight for your height doesn't guarantee that you will look the same as another person of that same weight and height. There are multiple factors that affect how different people look at the same weight and height. People who have more lean body mass —muscles rather than fat—will have a different appearance from someone of the same weight who is less muscular.

Muscle is more dense than fat, so it takes up less space than the same fat mass weight. Lean people with higher muscle mass who weigh the same as those with higher fat mass will appear more compact.

Each person has different proportions. Some people are longer in the legs and shorter in the torso, and vice versa. If you are a short-waisted woman, it's unlikely you'll have an hourglass figure with a nipped-in waist, no matter what your weight may be.

The SizeUSA study, published in , described variations in body shape for women. Forty-six percent were rectangular, with waists less than 9 inches smaller than hips or bust.

However, the fashion industry generally designs for an hourglass shape. Male body shapes have generally been categorized as ectomorph, endomorph, and mesomorph.

Fat is stored throughout the body, but different people tend to put on extra fat in different places. Some people store extra fat on their stomach and torso, giving them an apple shape. Others store it on their hips, buttocks, and upper thighs, giving them a pear shape.

Where you store fat is based largely on genetics, although there is some evidence that stress and depression can lead to weight gain around the waist. Body composition changes as you age. There are considerable differences upon the onset of puberty as male and female hormones change the body shape.

Then, at menopause, the balance of hormones changes again, and where the body stores fat may change. People have to work harder to maintain muscle mass as they enter older age. That being said, it might be helpful to see what other people look like at your weight and height for goal setting.

There are multiple online galleries where readers can post pictures, such as MyBodyGallery. You don't have to strive to meet a certain number in order to have a healthy body.

If you find yourself focused too much on the scale and getting discouraged, take positive steps instead. It is more important that you are physically active and eat nutritious food to keep your body strong and in working order.

Peterson CM, Thomas DM, Blackburn GL, Heymsfield SB. Universal equation for estimating ideal body weight and body weight at any BMI. Am J Clin Nutr. Klatsky AL, Zhang J, Udaltsova N, Li Y, Tran HN. Body mass index and mortality in a very large cohort: Is it really healthier to be overweight?

The ideal weight calculator is a user-friendly tool designed to assess whether your current weight aligns with the ideal range based on sex and height. To effectively use the calculator, follow these steps:. Select units of measurement: Choose your preferred units of measurement metric or imperial before entering values.

This choice will impact how the calculator interprets your inputs throughout the process. Sex selection: Indicate your sex. Note that your sex input will be autosaved, eliminating the need to re-enter this information during subsequent visits. Height input: Enter your height in your preferred unit of measurement.

Ensure that your input falls within a range of at least cm 5 ft tall and 2. As with sex selection, your height input will be autosaved, allowing you to resume your assessment if you return to the calculator seamlessly.

Weight input: Enter your current weight. Keep in mind that the minimum weight input is 15 kg 33 lb , and the maximum is kg 1, lb. These limits ensure the accuracy of the calculations for a reasonable range of weight values. Target BMI: If you have a specific BMI goal, you can access the advanced mode at the end of the calculator to indicate your desired value.

Results: After entering the information, the tool will calculate your ideal weight values according to different formulas. It will also generate a graph at the end of the calculator to help you visualize the results better.

Additionally, the tool will present the minimum and maximum values for a healthy weight based on BMI. For example, suppose you're a male standing at cm 6 ft tall and weighing 80 kg lb.

If you input these values into the calculator, it will determine that your ideal weight varies according to different formulas:. Additionally, you'll find that for your weight to fall within the healthy BMI range, it should be a minimum of 62 kg lb and a maximum of 83 kg lb.

Note that if you decide to use advanced mode to set a target BMI for example, 25 , your ideal weight, as per Peterson's formula, would change, adjusting from the initial 74 kg lb to 84 kg lb. There many many ways to estimate somebodies ideal weight.

Truth be told, none of them is perfectly accurate, as there are a lot of factors influencing it. For example, for people with a lot of muscle mass and high lean body mass , their ideal weight will tend to be more than indicated by the results they obtain.

Our ideal body weight calculator uses six different formulae to find your ideal weight, as well as giving you your BMI. While the four formulas listed below give you only one number that you should be aiming for, BMI gives you a certain weight range you should be in. Robinson's formula and Miller's formula are sometimes referred to as modifications of the Devine formula.

Apart from these six, our calculator also shows your ideal weight according to the Peterson formula, using your target BMI :. Note that this formula is independent of sex. Our calculator uses 22 as the target BMI by default.

You can change this value by clicking on the advanced mode. The last indicator of an individuals ideal weight is BMI, short for Body Mass Index. The optimal, healthy range for BMI is between Our ideal weight calculator converts this back into weight, presenting to you the range of appropriate weights for your height.

You can also take a look at a height-weight chart that shows the ranges of underweight, normal and overweight for various heights:. Remember that the values found with our ideal body weight calculator are not one hundred percent valid for all.

As long as you are in the BMI normal weight range, you are fine - don't go on a strict diet just to reach that specific number! Also, our IBW calculator is valid for adults only.

Don't use it to find the proper weight range of kids - consult a specialist instead. Also, don't use it if you are pregnant. Use pregnancy weight gain calculator instead!

The masterminds behind the ideal weight calculator are Łucja Zaborowska, Rita Rain, and Bogna Szyk. They bring diverse expertise to the tool, with Łucja Zaborowska being a medical doctor and an awarded graduate of Jagiellonian University Medical School, Rita Rain as a cognitive scientist, and Bogna Szyk as a civil engineer specializing in process management.

The idea for creating the calculator sparked when Łucja noticed patients struggling with determining their ideal body weight. Recognizing the need for a straightforward solution, she developed a tool to make this process more accessible and convenient for a broader audience.

Consequently, she assembled a team that meticulously crafted a user-friendly calculator suitable for both clinical and personal use. We put extra care into the quality of our content so that they are as accurate and reliable as possible. Each tool is peer-reviewed by a trained expert and then proofread by a native speaker.

For men: For women: The most medically validated ideal body weight formula is the Devine formula. Physicians use this formula to calculate the doses of certain drugs, such as levothyroxine or immunoglobulins.

Remember, this is only an estimation. There is no one universal weight for every woman your height, and this formula doesn't tell you if you should lose or gain weight. If you have concerns about your current body weight, talk to your physician.

If you want to lose weight, you would probably love to do it as quickly as possible. Doctors say the safe weight loss pace is around 0.

That means ideally, you should lose no more than kg 2. It might sound discouraging. But a slow, steady weight loss pace is the best way to lose weight without stress — and lose it permanently. The Devine formula only requires your height.