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 standard formula was developed by Devine in 1974 and is commonly used in medical settings.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard 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 additional inch over 5 feet

Explanation: The formula assumes a medium frame size and provides a general guideline for healthy weight.

3. Importance of Ideal Weight Calculation

Details: Knowing your ideal body weight helps in assessing nutritional status, determining medication dosages, and setting healthy weight goals.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your height in inches (1 foot = 12 inches). For example, 5'5" would be 65 inches. The calculator will estimate your ideal weight in kilograms.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is this formula accurate for all women?
A: It provides a general estimate but may not account for body composition differences. Athletic women or those with different frame sizes may vary.

Q2: How do I convert the result to pounds?
A: Multiply the result in kg by 2.205 to get pounds (1 kg = 2.205 lbs).

Q3: What about for very tall or short women?
A: The formula works best for heights between 5'0" and 6'0". For extremes, other methods may be more appropriate.

Q4: Does this account for age?
A: No, this is a height-based formula. Elderly individuals may naturally carry less muscle mass.

Q5: What's the male version of this formula?
A: For men: IBW = 50 + 2.3 × (height_in - 60).