1. What is Ideal Body Weight (IBW)?

The Ideal Body Weight (IBW) is an estimate of healthy body weight based on height and gender. It's commonly used in medical settings for drug dosing, nutritional assessment, and determining appropriate weight ranges.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Devine formula:

Where:

• \( height \) — Height in inches
• 50 — Base weight for men (kg) at 5 feet (60 inches)
• 45.5 — Base weight for women (kg) at 5 feet (60 inches)
• 2.3 — Weight increment per additional inch

Explanation: The formula estimates ideal weight by adding 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 feet (60 inches).

3. Importance of IBW Calculation

Details: IBW is used clinically for determining medication dosages, nutritional requirements, and assessing weight status. It's particularly important for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use IBW instead of actual body weight?
A: IBW is often used for drug dosing calculations as it represents lean body mass rather than total weight, which may include excess fat.

Q2: What are the limitations of IBW?
A: IBW doesn't account for body composition, muscle mass, or frame size. It may underestimate needs for muscular individuals.

Q3: How to convert height from cm to inches?
A: Divide cm by 2.54 to get inches (e.g., 170 cm = 170/2.54 ≈ 66.9 inches).

Q4: What about adjusted body weight?
A: For obese patients, adjusted body weight (ABW) may be used: ABW = IBW + 0.4 × (actual weight - IBW).

Q5: Are there other IBW formulas?
A: Yes, other formulas include Hamwi (1964), Robinson (1983), and Miller (1983), with slightly different coefficients.