⚖️ Hamwi Ideal Body Weight Calculator
Calculate your ideal body weight using the clinically established Hamwi formula — supports imperial & metric units
| Height (ft/in) | Height (cm) | Male IBW (lbs) | Female IBW (lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4'10" | 147 cm | 106 lbs | 100 lbs |
| 5'0" | 152 cm | 118 lbs | 110 lbs |
| 5'2" | 157 cm | 130 lbs | 120 lbs |
| 5'4" | 163 cm | 142 lbs | 130 lbs |
| 5'6" | 168 cm | 154 lbs | 140 lbs |
| 5'8" | 173 cm | 166 lbs | 150 lbs |
| 5'10" | 178 cm | 178 lbs | 160 lbs |
| 6'0" | 183 cm | 190 lbs | 170 lbs |
| 6'2" | 188 cm | 202 lbs | 180 lbs |
| 6'4" | 193 cm | 214 lbs | 190 lbs |
| Frame Size | Male Wrist (height > 5'5") | Female Wrist | IBW Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Under 6.5 in (16.5 cm) | Under 5.5 in (14 cm) | −10% of IBW |
| Medium | 6.5–7.5 in (16.5–19 cm) | 5.5–6.5 in (14–16.5 cm) | No adjustment |
| Large | Over 7.5 in (19 cm) | Over 6.5 in (16.5 cm) | +10% of IBW |
| Category | BMI Range | % Above/Below IBW | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severely Underweight | Below 16.0 | Below −20% | Very High |
| Underweight | 16.0 – 18.4 | −10% to −20% | High |
| Normal Weight | 18.5 – 24.9 | Within ±10% | Low |
| Overweight | 25.0 – 29.9 | +10% to +20% | Moderate |
| Obese Class I | 30.0 – 34.9 | +20% to +40% | High |
| Obese Class II | 35.0 – 39.9 | +40% to +70% | Very High |
| Obese Class III | 40.0+ | Above +70% | Extremely High |
The best weight for the body is that that relates to the least danger of death for a particular height, age, sex and size of the person. That idea comes from more than a hundred years of studies about the tie between physical size and health. Usually one finds the ideal weight in the tables about height and weight of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, that first published at the start of the 1940s.
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, I receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Between the most used methods for guessing the wanted Body Weight stands the formula of Devine from 1974. At men it works thus: start at 50 kilos and add each 2,3 kilos for every inch above five feet. Like this, folk masculine high in five feet and ten inches would receive 2,3 times 10 plus 50, so 73 kilos, what is around 161 pounds.
How to Find Your Healthy Weight
One can say that also like this: 110 pounds basic plus each 5 pounds for every inch above five feet.
The formula of Devine truly does not have firm scientific base. It however gets used a lot in medicine. Doctors rely on it for dosing medicines, setting breathing machiens, guessing food needs and checking kidney function.
Also it helps for fast rating of risks.
There probably exist several different formulas, and those can produce quite a lot of various results. The formula of Robinson from 1983 points maybe 164,9 pounds. At Miller from 1983 one finds 161,2 pounds.
Devine gives 171,1 pounds. The Hamwi from 1964 arrives at 177,2 pounds. That range commonly confuses folks.
Rating of the weight that folk should have are not as easy as looking at a table about height and weight. It depends also on the structure of bones, of muscles, of fat and of the whole shape of the body. The type of body plays a role.
Thin folks have thin builds, average folks have average builds and strong folks have strong builds. Every kind requires another weigh to manage the weight.
BMI forms another common way to measure. It considers the relation between weight and height. Even so BMI does not mind to muscle mass, to density of bones or to shape of the body.
Because of that a muscular athlete can seem obese in a BMI table, although he is entirely healthy.
Calculations about ideal Body Weight do not consider genetics or other health matters. No single formula can exactly say to folk how much he should weigh. Percentage of body fat commonly helps more than simply numbers.
At men the good range of body fat is around 15 to 20 percent. At women it sits between 20 and 25 percent. A target of 8 to 15 percent works for those that want a thin, athletic look.
The main point is that every folk is unique, andno number is perfect.
