1. What is Ideal Body Weight?

Ideal Body Weight (IBW) is an estimate of healthy weight range based on height and gender. It's commonly used in medical settings for drug dosing calculations and nutritional assessments.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Devine formula:

Where:

• \( height\_in \) — Height in inches
• 50 kg — Base weight for men (5 feet tall)
• 45.5 kg — Base weight for women (5 feet tall)
• 2.3 kg — Weight added per inch over 5 feet

Explanation: The formula assumes a linear relationship between height and weight beyond 5 feet (60 inches).

3. Importance of Ideal Weight Calculation

Details: IBW is used clinically for medication dosing, nutritional assessment, and as a reference point for determining obesity or underweight status.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter height in inches (between 48-96 inches), select gender. The calculator will estimate your ideal body weight in kilograms.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why are there different formulas for men and women?
A: Men typically have more muscle mass and larger frames than women of the same height, hence the different base weights.

Q2: What's the metric version of this formula?
A: For height in centimeters: IBW (men) = 50 + 0.9 × (height_cm - 152.4), women = 45.5 + 0.9 × (height_cm - 152.4)

Q3: How accurate is this formula?
A: It provides a rough estimate but doesn't account for frame size, muscle mass, or body composition. Other formulas like Hamwi may be more accurate for some individuals.

Q4: Should athletes use this formula?
A: Athletes with high muscle mass may exceed IBW without being overweight. Body fat percentage may be a better indicator.

Q5: What about adjusted body weight?
A: For obese patients, adjusted weight = IBW + 0.4 × (actual weight - IBW) is sometimes used for drug dosing calculations.