What Is My Ideal Weight? (Complete Guide + Formula Breakdown)
The truth about ideal weight: There is no single ideal weight for your height. Different clinically validated formulas give different answers — and they are all estimates. What matters more than a target number is your body composition and health markers.
What "Ideal Weight" Actually Means
Ideal body weight (IBW) formulas were originally developed in the 1960s–80s for clinical purposes — calculating drug dosages, assessing nutritional risk, and setting post-surgery targets. They were never intended as personal fitness goals, but have been widely adopted as benchmarks.
The four main formulas (Hamwi 1964, Devine 1974, Robinson 1983, Miller 1983) all use height and sex as inputs and produce slightly different answers. The variation between them for the same person can be 3–6kg.
The Four Formulas Compared
| Formula | Year | Men (175cm) | Women (165cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamwi | 1964 | ~72 kg | ~60 kg |
| Devine | 1974 | ~73 kg | ~60 kg |
| Robinson | 1983 | ~76 kg | ~59 kg |
| Miller | 1983 | ~75 kg | ~59 kg |
Why BMI Healthy Weight Range Is More Useful
The BMI healthy weight range (18.5–24.9 kg/m²) gives a range rather than a single number, which is more realistic. For a 175cm person, this range is 56–76kg — a 20kg window. This reflects the genuine biological diversity in healthy human bodies.
Ideal Weight vs Body Fat: Which Should You Target?
Targeting a body weight number without considering body composition can lead to muscle loss and poor outcomes. A 75kg person with 15% body fat is in far better health than a 70kg person with 30% body fat. A healthy body fat percentage within a healthy BMI range is a far better target than a single weight number.
Men: target 14–20% body fat. Women: target 21–28% body fat. Use our body fat calculator to find yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
- Pai MP & Paloucek FP. The origin of the ideal body weight equations. Ann Pharmacother, 2000.