There is no single 'ideal weight' — only a few formulas, each with its own bias. Knowing the trade-offs helps you set a sane goal.
Ask ten experts and you will get twelve answers. The underlying math, thankfully, only has one. There is no single 'ideal weight' — only a few formulas, each with its own bias. Knowing the trade-offs helps you set a sane goal.
Hamwi (M): 48 + 2.7 × (in over 5 ft) kg • Devine (M): 50 + 2.3 × (in over 5 ft) kg
Hamwi was designed for clinical drug dosing. Devine adjusted it for dosing precision. BMI-based ranges aim for population health risk.
Athletes — use body-fat percentage instead. Most adults — BMI range (18.5–24.9). Drug dosing — Devine. Quick mental check — Hamwi.
Add or subtract 10% based on wrist circumference. Small frames sit lower, large frames sit higher in the range.
A weight that keeps your metabolic markers healthy and lets you function. The lowest possible number is rarely the healthiest.
Can I be heavier than ideal and still healthy? Absolutely — if body fat is moderate, blood pressure normal and you're active. Outside markers matter more than the scale.
Why is muscle so heavy? Muscle is denser than fat. A lean athlete can weigh more than the BMI 'normal' range and be perfectly healthy.
Bookmark the calculator linked above — you will need it more often than you think. Try the Ideal Weight linked above to put these numbers to work right now.