1. What is Ideal Body Weight?

Ideal Body Weight (IBW) is an estimate of how much a person should weigh based on their height and gender. For women, the Devine formula is commonly used to calculate IBW.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Devine formula for women:

Where:

• \( height_{in} \) — Height in inches
• 45.5 — Base weight in kg for a woman 5 feet tall (60 inches)
• 2.3 — Weight added per inch over 5 feet

Explanation: The formula assumes an ideal weight of 45.5 kg for a woman who is 5 feet tall (60 inches), with an additional 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 feet.

3. Importance of Ideal Body Weight

Details: Ideal body weight is used clinically for drug dosing, nutritional assessment, and determining appropriate weight goals. It provides a standardized reference for weight based on height.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter height in inches (1 foot = 12 inches). The calculator will provide the ideal body weight in kilograms.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is this formula specific to women?
A: Women typically have different body composition than men, with generally higher body fat percentages and lower muscle mass, which is accounted for in gender-specific formulas.

Q2: What are the limitations of this formula?
A: It doesn't account for frame size, muscle mass, or body composition. It may underestimate weight for muscular individuals and overestimate for those with small frames.

Q3: How do I convert my height from feet to inches?
A: Multiply feet by 12 and add remaining inches (e.g., 5'4" = (5×12) + 4 = 64 inches).

Q4: Is this formula appropriate for all ethnicities?
A: The formula was developed primarily for Caucasian populations and may need adjustment for other ethnic groups.

Q5: How does this relate to BMI?
A: While IBW provides a single target weight, BMI (weight/height²) provides a range of healthy weights. IBW typically corresponds to a BMI of about 21-22.