Ideal Weight Calculator

Several medical formulas exist, each developed for different clinical purposes. Devine (1974): Men = 50 + 2.3 × (height in inches − 60). Women = 45.5 + 2.3 × (height in inches − 60). Originally developed for drug dosing in pharmacology. Robinson (1983): Men = 52 + 1.9 × (height − 60). Women = 49 + 1.7 × (height − 60). Miller (1983): Men = 56.2 + 1.41 × (height − 60). Women = 53.1 + 1.36 × (height − 60). Hamwi (1964): Men = 106 lbs for 5 feet + 6 lbs/inch. Women = 100 lbs for 5 feet + 5 lbs/inch. These formulas have limitations and don't account for muscle mass, frame size, or age.

BMI (Body Mass Index) = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)². WHO categories: Underweight < 18.5. Normal weight: 18.5–24.9. Overweight: 25–29.9. Obese: 30+. Healthy weight range corresponds to BMI 18.5–24.9. Example for 5'10" (177.8 cm): Healthy weight = 18.5 × (1.778)² to 24.9 × (1.778)² = 58.6 to 78.8 kg = 129–174 lbs. Limitations of BMI: doesn't distinguish muscle from fat. Overestimates obesity in muscular individuals. May underestimate body fat in older adults. Different ethnic populations may need adjusted cutoffs (some Asian populations use 23 as overweight threshold).

"Ideal weight" (from medical formulas) is based on height and was developed for clinical contexts like drug dosing. It doesn't account for: Body composition (muscle vs fat). Frame size (small, medium, large skeleton). Age (older adults may carry slightly more weight healthfully). Ethnicity. "Healthy weight" (BMI 18.5–24.9) is a population-based range that has different implications. Someone at their "ideal weight" per Devine formula may actually have excess body fat if they have low muscle mass. A muscular athlete may be above "ideal weight" yet be perfectly healthy. Use these as reference ranges, not precise targets.

The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company published "ideal weight" tables in 1942 and 1959, based on data from policyholders with lowest mortality. They accounted for frame size (small/medium/large) based on wrist circumference or elbow breadth. These tables influenced many medical weight guidelines for decades. The 1983 update acknowledged a slight upward revision. Limitations: based on mostly white, middle-class Americans. Overrepresented people who purchased life insurance. Didn't account for age well. Despite limitations, the Met Life tables contributed to modern understanding of weight-mortality relationships. Most current formulas are derived or calibrated from this data.

Frame size can be estimated by wrist circumference relative to height. Women: Small frame: wrist < 14 cm (<5.5"). Medium: 14–14.6 cm. Large: >14.6 cm. Men: Small frame: height > 170 cm with wrist < 16.5 cm. Medium: 16.5–17.8 cm. Large: >17.8 cm. Another method (elbow breadth): measure width of elbow joint with arm at 90°. Compare to standard tables by height range. Practical note: frame size accounts for roughly ±10% variation in ideal weight. A large-framed individual can healthfully weigh 10% more than a small-framed person of the same height. This calculator shows the standard range — adjust ±10% for your frame size.