1. What is Ideal Body Weight (IBW)?

Ideal Body Weight (IBW) is an estimate of how much a person should weigh based on their height and gender. The Devine formula is commonly used in medical settings for medication dosing and nutritional assessment.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Devine formula:

Where:

• \( height \) — Height in inches
• 50 kg — Base weight for men (at 60 inches)
• 45.5 kg — Base weight for women (at 60 inches)
• 2.3 kg — Weight added per inch over 60 inches

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

3. Importance of IBW Calculation

Details: IBW is used clinically for drug dosing (especially for medications with narrow therapeutic windows), nutritional assessment, and determining appropriate weight for mechanical ventilation settings.

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 the Devine formula?
A: The Devine formula is widely accepted in medical practice, especially for medication dosing calculations.

Q2: What about people shorter than 5 feet?
A: The formula can still be used, but results may be less accurate for very short individuals.

Q3: How does this differ from BMI?
A: IBW provides a single target weight based on height and gender, while BMI is a ratio of weight to height squared.

Q4: Should athletes use IBW?
A: IBW may underestimate appropriate weight for muscular individuals. Adjusted body weight may be more appropriate.

Q5: Are there other IBW formulas?
A: Yes, other formulas include Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi methods, which give slightly different results.