Question 1

What is the difference between the Robinson, Miller, Devine, and Hamwi formulas?

Accepted Answer

The four formulas were developed independently by different clinicians across different eras and populations, so they use different base weights and per-inch adjustments. For men: Robinson (1983) starts at 52 kg + 1.9 kg/inch over 5 feet; Miller (1983) starts at 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg/inch; Devine (1974) starts at 50 kg + 2.3 kg/inch; Hamwi (1964) starts at 48 kg + 2.7 kg/inch. For a 175 cm (68.9 inch) man, they produce estimates ranging from 65.9 to 71.9 kg — a spread of 6 kg, reflecting the genuine uncertainty in defining 'ideal weight' from population data alone.

Question 2

Why does the calculator show different values for men and women at the same height?

Accepted Answer

All four formulas use sex-specific constants because men and women naturally differ in body composition at the same height. Women typically have proportionally more body fat and less lean muscle mass than men due to hormonal and reproductive biology. The female versions of each formula start with slightly lower base weights and smaller per-inch increments. At 165 cm, for example, the Devine formula gives 57.7 kg for women versus 61.7 kg for men — reflecting average differences in body composition between sexes at the same stature.

Question 3

How accurate are these ideal weight formulas?

Accepted Answer

The four formulas were derived from clinical and actuarial data primarily from the mid-20th century and have known limitations. They use only height and sex as inputs, ignoring age, muscle mass, bone density, and body fat distribution — all of which significantly affect what constitutes a healthy weight for an individual. Research comparing formula outputs to DEXA scan body composition data shows substantial individual variation around the formulas' predictions. Consider the results as a general reference range rather than a precise personal target.

Question 4

What was the Devine formula originally designed for?

Accepted Answer

The Devine formula was introduced in 1974 not as a health or fitness guideline but as a clinical pharmacokinetics tool — to calculate ideal body weight for drug dosing, particularly for medications where distribution in lean tissue matters (antibiotics, anesthetics, chemotherapy agents). Using a patient's actual body weight for dosing obese patients can cause dangerous overdose for these medications. The Devine formula provided a simple estimate of lean mass-appropriate dosing weight. It was never intended as a fitness target, but has since been widely adopted in health contexts.

Question 5

How does ideal weight differ from the healthy BMI range?

Accepted Answer

These are different approaches to the same question. BMI-based healthy weight uses a range (18.5–24.9 kg/m²) that produces a range of acceptable weights for a given height — typically 10–15 kg wide. The ideal weight formulas each produce a single point estimate, not a range. The WHO healthy BMI approach gives: for 170 cm, the healthy range is 53.5–72.0 kg. The ideal weight formula average for the same height is approximately 65–68 kg — roughly in the middle of the BMI range. The formulas can be thought of as estimating the middle of the healthy BMI range rather than just the boundaries.

Question 6

Should athletes or muscular individuals use these formulas?

Accepted Answer

No — these formulas systematically underestimate appropriate body weight for athletes and highly muscular individuals, because they were derived from general population data with typical body composition. A 180 cm male competitive weightlifter with high muscle mass and low body fat may appropriately weigh 95–100 kg, far above the Devine formula's 80.8 kg estimate for that height. For athletic populations, body fat percentage and lean mass measurement (via DEXA, hydrostatic weighing, or BodPod) are far more relevant than formula-based ideal weight targets.

Question 7

Do these formulas apply for people shorter than 5 feet (152 cm)?

Accepted Answer

The formulas were designed for adults of 5 feet (152.4 cm) and above. For heights below 5 feet, the formulas extrapolate downward but were not validated in shorter populations. Most published versions of these formulas simply use the base weight constant for anyone at or below 5 feet, without applying the per-inch adjustment in reverse. For people of shorter stature, BMI-based healthy range (18.5–24.9 kg/m²) is generally a more reliable reference than these formula outputs.

Question 8

How should I use this calculator alongside BMI?

Accepted Answer

Use both as complementary reference points, not as definitive targets. The ideal weight formulas give a single-number estimate of 'optimal' weight based on height and sex. The BMI healthy range gives the lower and upper bounds. Together they define a target zone: the ideal weight formula output should fall roughly in the middle of your healthy BMI range for your height. If your current weight is above the ideal weight estimate by 5–10 kg but still within the healthy BMI range, you are in a healthy weight zone and the ideal weight target represents a reasonable personal goal rather than a medical necessity.

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