Ideal Body Weight - What's Yours?

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IBW is the abbreviation for ‘Ideal body weight’ meaning thereby the desirable weight that an individual should weigh. No, it’s not the ‘idle’ body weight and neither is it the weight checked on a different weighing machine. Unlike just desiring and weighing how much you want, Ideal body weight is calculated scientifically based on certain physical parameters of an individual.

A person whose weight falls within the desirable range for height is said to be at an ideal body weight (IBW). If the weight falls outside the desirable range then it is known as unhealthy weight (underweight or overweight). The assessment cannot be reliable only on the body weight of a person. The body weight consists of fat, muscle mass, bone, organs, other tissues, body fluids and water. Excess or deficient in any or all of these components will affect the body weight.

People may be considered as overweight if their weight is 120% of IBW (in women) and 124% of IBW (in men). Athlete with good musculature may have less body fat than an inactive person presumed to have an acceptable weight, yet they weigh more owing to their muscles.

Ideal body weight can be calculated by 3 methods in adults. Let us understand each method better. In the first method the IBW can be calculated by conversion of height in feet to weight in pounds and further conversion of weight in pounds to weight in kilograms. Basically, it is the calculation of desirable weight for height.

Method 1:

The Estimated ideal body weight

In Females:                                                                        In Males:

5’ = 100lbs                                                                           5’ = 106lbs                          

1” = 5lbs                                                                              1” = 6lbs

For example, say the height of a lady is 5’8”, then,

5’ = 100lbs

8” = 40lbs

100 + 40 = 140lbs

  

Now,

1Kg = 2.2lbs

Hence, 140/2.2 = 63.63 Kg.

Therefore, a lady whose height is 5’8” should weigh 63.63 Kg ideally.

The second method of calculation is similar to the first method and is simpler as the conversion of height in feet is directly done into weight in kilograms,

Method 2:

The Estimated ideal body weight

In Females:                                                                          In Males:

5’ = 45.5 Kg                                                                         5’ = 50 Kg

1” = 2.3 Kg                                                                          1” = 2.3 Kg

For example, say the height of a man is 5’11”; then ideally his weight should be,

5’ = 50 Kg

11” = 25.3 Kg

Hence, 50 + 25.3 = 75.3 Kg

Therefore, a man whose height is 5’11” should weigh 75.3 Kg ideally.

Now moving on to the last method, this method is called ‘Broka’s Index’ and it is the easiest method to calculate the ideal body weight. In this method, the height in centimeters in subtracted by 100 to arrive at the ideal body weight.

Method 3:

Broka’s index:

Height (cm) -100 = ideal weight (kg)

1’ = 30.48cm

1” = 2.54cm

For example, say the height is 5’, then,

5’ x 30.48cm = 152.4cm

Therefore, the IBW of a person whose height is 5’ is 152.4cm – 100 = 52.4kgs.

Practically it is difficult to remain at the exact ideal body weight; hence, ±3 Kg from the IBW is an acceptable range. These methods are easy to calculate your ideal body weight and give you an estimate of how much you should approximately weigh and thereby provide an important measure to decide your calorie requirements and plan diets.  Also remember that the weight of a person varies due to several reasons, two people with same height may not weigh same due to their musculature or bone health.  

Post by Divya Konamme