Ideal Weight Calculator

How does the ideal weight calculator work?

This type of weight calculation offers you the occasion to determine your ideal weight with just one very simple measurement that you need to make or perhaps a value that you already know. This is your height that we are talking about, whether you want to input it in metric as cm or English as feet and inches. You are also asked to input your age and gender and you can already press calculate.

Then the form will return you a result that is based on the four ideal weight formulas but also on the healthy BMI range. You will receive the results in the same measurement unit in which you’ve input the height. Don’t forget that you can see the data you’ve input at all times and you can also start all over again with fresh data.

Weight formulas:

These are the equations used in the above form to determine the values of the ideal weight in relation to the height and gender.

G. J. Hamwi’s formula

- Ideal body weight for men= 48.0 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 feet
- Ideal body weight for women = 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 feet

B. J. Devine’s equation

- Ideal body weight for men= 50.0 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
- Ideal body weight for women = 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet

D. R. Miller’s formula

- Ideal body weight for men= 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch over 5 feet
- Ideal body weight for women=53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch over 5 feet

J.D. Robinson’s equation

- Ideal body weight for men= 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 feet
- Ideal body weight for women= 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch over 5 feet

Example weight calculation:

Let’s take for instance the case of a 23 year old female with a height of 5 feet and 2 inches.

The result that is given by the ideal weight calculator in this case is listed below:

• By using Miller’s method (1983), your ideal weight is 123.1 lbs;
• By using Robinson’s approach (1983), your ideal weight is 115.5 lbs;
• By using Devine’s formula (1974), your ideal weight is 110.5 lbs;
• By using Hamwi’s equation (1964), your ideal weight is 110 lbs;
• Your recommended weight, based on the healthy BMI recommendation is between 101.1 lbs and 136.7 lbs.

What is really the concept of ideal weight?

Ideal weight is what we call a healthy level of the body’s weight. Even though over time, many researchers tried to find an exact ideal weight formula it is important to notice that at the moment there is no precise answer on what is the ideal weight of a person. The results that the existing ideal weight formulas provide are approximate.

There is no precise answer because what is a healthy number for a person might not be for another person. When speaking about healthy weight of the body, the aspects most taken into account and height, gender, age and body shape.

How to achieve and maintain your ideal weight

Some people are said to be born with good genes and are able to maintain their weight at the right levels throughout their lives, with little variations. Some others go through numerous diets and strict programs to regain a healthy weight after they’ve lost it.

First things first, in order to know what your goal is you should use weight calculators or tools such as the one presented above to determine which the right weight is for you. Then you need to remember that weight loss has to be done gradually and then supported with a healthy alimentation.

In order to be able to talk about maintaining our health we should focus on the three main causes of weight gain and we should try and find measures that can fight off these factors.

• Diet: unhealthy and unbalanced diet cause weight gain.
• Genes: for some persons there is a genetic predisposition to gain weight in comparison to some other persons that have similar diet, physical activity level and lifestyle;
• Physical activity level: physical activity means calories burned, so by keeping a balanced level between daily calories intake and the calories burned during the day you can maintain a proper body weight.

As long as we take care of these causes, we can be sure to maintain in the limits of the quite wide range of healthy weights as cited for our height.

References

1) Pai MP, Paloucek FP. (2000) The origin of the ideal body weight equations. Ann Pharmacother; 34(9):1066-9.

2) Walpole SC, Prieto-Merino D, Edwards P, Cleland J, Stevens G, Roberts I et al. (2012) The weight of nations: an estimation of adult human biomass. BMC Public Health (BMC Public Health, 12:439