Desirable Body Weight Calculator

Desirable Body Weight Formula:

\[ \text{IBW (men)} = 50 + 2.3 \times (\text{height\_in} - 60) \]

Desirable Body Weight:

Unit Converter ▲

Unit Converter ▼

From:	To:

1. What is Desirable Body Weight?

Desirable Body Weight (DBW), also known as Ideal Body Weight (IBW), is an estimate of how much a person should weigh based on their height and gender. It's used in clinical settings for nutritional assessment and medication dosing.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formulas:

\[ \text{Men: } 50\ kg + 2.3\ kg\ per\ inch\ over\ 5\ feet \] \[ \text{Women: } 45.5\ kg + 2.3\ kg\ per\ inch\ over\ 5\ feet \]

Where:

Height is measured in inches
5 feet = 60 inches
Different base weights for men and women

3. Importance of Desirable Body Weight

Details: DBW is used for nutritional assessment, determining weight loss goals, adjusting medication doses, and calculating energy requirements.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter height in inches (1 foot = 12 inches), select gender, and click calculate. For example, 5'7" = 67 inches.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between IBW and BMI?
A: IBW is an absolute weight based on height/gender, while BMI is a ratio of weight to height squared.

Q2: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It's a general estimate and doesn't account for frame size, muscle mass, or body composition.

Q3: What about people under 5 feet tall?
A: The formula can still be used (will subtract weight for inches under 5 feet).

Q4: Why different formulas for men and women?
A: Men typically have more muscle mass and larger frames than women at the same height.

Q5: How is this used clinically?
A: For nutritional assessment, drug dosing (especially for medications with narrow therapeutic windows).