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Discover all the formulas for calculating your ideal body weight, with all its pros and cons
We offer different formulas to calculate your ideal body weight. This ideal weight calculator will allow you to assess the weight range that best applies to your body in order to avoid excess weight gain. If you wish, you can find out what your ideal weight is directly below.
8 formulas for calculating your ideal weight
There are several formulas for calculating your ideal weight, but none is considered perfect. The most common formulas are the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is of little interest to sportspeople because it is not very accurate, and the Lorentz formula, which is often preferred.
All the formulas for calculating your ideal weight
The Lorentz formula, created by Dr Friedrich Lorentz (a member of the Department of Sports Hygiene at the Hamburg Institute) in 1929, is based on the Broca Index and it contains additional parameters, such as the person’s height and sex.
Advantage: It is the most common formula used these days to estimate your ideal weight.
Disadvantage: It’s an approximate formula as it does not take into account age or morphology.
Ideal weight for men(in lbs) = Height (in feet) – 100 – ((height in feet – 150) /4))
Ideal weight for women(in lbs) = Height (in feet) – 100 – ((Height in feet – 150) /2.5))
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is based on a weight-to-height ratio and it is used to determine and assess the risks associated with being underweight or obese.
In order to provide an even more accurate estimate of your ideal weight, this formula takes into account another parameter in addition to your height: your bone structure.
Advantage: It includes bone structure into its calculation, and muscle mass to a certain extent.
Disadvantage: The calculation formula is approximate.
Ideal weight (in lbs) = (Height in feet – 100 + 4 x Wrist circumference in inches) / 2
This is the oldest formula to calculate your ideal body weight: It was invented by Dr Paul Broca, a French surgeon, in 1871.
Advantage: It’s a simple formula that is easy to calculate.
Disadvantage: It’s an approximate calculation: It overestimates weight, not only for women, but also for anyone who is taller than 5 feet.
Ideal weight (in lbs) = Height (in feet) – 100
Dating back to 1891, Bornhardt’s formula was originally devised to determine the build of people enrolled in the army and thus determine their physical aptitude for military service. Although less popular than Broca’s Index, it is nonetheless more reliable and accurate, since it takes into account the individual’s specific build.
Advantage: It includes the chest circumference and, to a certain extent, muscle mass.
Disadvantage : It’s an approximate calculation.
Ideal weight (in lbs) = ((Height (in feet) x Chest circumference (in cm)) / 240
The formula was created by Professor AF Creff in the 1970s, and it offers a precise calculation of your ideal weight, provided that you have an accurate estimate of your body shape and type.
Advantage: It incorporates body morphology into its calculation, in addition to height and age.
Disadvantage: This formula is based on the distinction between “normal”, “broad” and “slender” people. These notions are relatively vague and subjective and thus the calculation remains fairly approximate.
For an individual with a “normal” build:
Ideal weight (in lbs) = Height (in feet) – 100 + (Age (in years) /10) x 0.9
For an individual with a “large” build:
Ideal weight (in lbs) = Height (in feet) – 100 + (Age (in years) /10) x 0.9 x 1.1
For an individual with a “slender” build:
Ideal weight (in lbs) = Height (in feet) – 100 + (Age (in years) /10) x 0.9 x 0.9
This formula was devised by Dr B.J. Devine in 1974. It was originally designed for medicinal dosage purposes. Widely used in English-speaking countries, this formula was employed by major medical and pharmaceutical houses between 1974 and 2000.
Advantage: It allows a given height, measured in feet, to be converted into an ideal weight, in lbs.
Disadvantage: The formula does not take age into account, thus it remains approximate.
Ideal weight for men (in lbs) = 50 (lbs) + 2.3 x [Height (in feet) – 60]
Ideal female weight (in lbs) = 45.5 (lbs) + 2.3 x [Height (in feet)- 60]
* one foot represents 30 centimeters.
The Perrault Formula is also a variation of Broca’s formula.
Advantage: This formula takes age into account.
Disadvantage: It does not take sex into account. However, it’s a very approximate calculation.
Ideal weight (in lbs) = Height (in feet) – 100 + (age (in years)/10) x 0.9
More formulas for calculating your ideal weight
Body fat percentage
Body fat percentage measures the amount of body fat in relation to total body mass. It can be measured using various methods. However, these methods can be expensive and impractical for use at home.
See : Calculating body fat index
Lean body mass calculator
Calculating lean body mass is another way of estimating fitness weight. It is based on total body mass minus body fat, which gives lean or muscle mass. However, as with body fat percentage, this method can be expensive and impractical for use at home.
Many scales now offer the option of calculating muscle mass and fat mass to better determine our body composition.
Ultimately, there is no perfect formula for calculating your body weight. Each formula has its own limitations and may not be accurate for everyone. It’s important to remember that weight does not define health and that healthy eating habits and regular physical activity are more important for overall health. It is always best to consult a health professional to assess your weight and overall health.
