The concept of "ideal weight" is a health metric used to estimate a weight range that is likely to be associated with good health for a person of a specific height and sex. It's important to note that these are general guidelines and individual body compositions, muscle mass, and frame size can influence what is truly healthy for you. This calculator provides an estimation based on common formulas.
Common Formulas for Ideal Weight
Several formulas exist to calculate ideal weight. The most common ones are the Devine formula and the Hamwi formula. This calculator will provide an estimation based on the Devine formula, which is widely used for drug dosage calculations and is a good general indicator.
Devine Formula:
For Men: 50 kg + 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 feet.
For Women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 feet.
Since the input is in centimeters, we first convert height to feet and inches. 1 inch = 2.54 cm. 5 feet = 60 inches.
Calculation Logic:
Convert Height from cm to inches: height_inches = height_cm / 2.54
Ensure the ideal weight is not negative. If the calculation results in a negative number (for very short individuals), the ideal weight is typically considered the base value (50kg for men, 45.5kg for women), though in practice, such low values for height are uncommon.
Why Use an Ideal Weight Calculator?
An ideal weight calculator can serve as a starting point for understanding healthy weight ranges. It can be useful for:
Gaining a general idea of a healthy weight goal.
Informing discussions with healthcare professionals about weight management.
Assessing whether your current weight falls within a typical healthy range for your height and sex.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized health and medical advice.
function calculateIdealWeight() {
var heightCm = parseFloat(document.getElementById("heightCm").value);
var gender = document.getElementById("gender").value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
if (isNaN(heightCm) || heightCm 0) {
idealWeightKg = baseWeightKg + (heightOver5Feet * 2.3);
} else {
idealWeightKg = baseWeightKg; // For heights 5ft or less, use base weight
}
} else { // female
baseWeightKg = 45.5;
if (heightOver5Feet > 0) {
idealWeightKg = baseWeightKg + (heightOver5Feet * 2.3);
} else {
idealWeightKg = baseWeightKg; // For heights 5ft or less, use base weight
}
}
// Ensure ideal weight is not less than the base weight for very short heights
if (idealWeightKg < baseWeightKg) {
idealWeightKg = baseWeightKg;
}
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Your ideal weight is approximately: " + idealWeightKg.toFixed(2) + " kg";
}