Find a healthy weight range for your height in kilograms and stone, and compare it with four classic ideal body weight formulas.
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Healthy weight range
For most adults a healthy weight is a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. The calculator turns that into a weight range for your height. For a 178 cm adult that’s about 59 to 79 kg (9 st 3 lb to 12 st 6 lb).
The classic formulas
Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas each give a single “ideal” weight from height. They were developed mainly for calculating medicine doses, and differ by several kilograms. For a 178 cm man they range from about 70 to 75 kg.
Why a range is better
- A single number ignores frame size, muscle and age.
- Muscular people can be above the range and healthy.
- Waist size matters too: for most adults, a waist under half your height is a good sign.
Health risks start at a lower BMI for some groups. For adults of South Asian, Chinese, Black African or African-Caribbean background, the NHS uses 23 rather than 25 as the start of the overweight range.
Frequently asked questions
What is my ideal weight?
For most adults, anywhere in the range that gives a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 for your height.
Which ideal weight formula is best?
None is perfect. The BMI range is more useful for everyday health, and the formulas are mainly used in medicine dosing.
Does ideal weight depend on age?
Slightly. Some guidance allows a little more weight in older age, but the standard BMI range is the same for all adults.
Is BMI accurate for athletes?
Not very. Muscle weighs more than fat, so body fat percentage or waist size can be better guides.
Sources
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