The four formulas explained
All four formulas start from a base weight at five feet (152.4 cm) and add a fixed amount for every inch above that. They differ in the base and the step.
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft | 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft |
| Robinson (1983) | 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch | 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch | 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch |
The Devine formula was first made to dose drugs and is still used by hospitals for that reason. None of the four was designed to judge health.
Limits of ideal weight formulas
The formulas ignore age, frame size, muscle and ethnicity. They give a single number when real healthy weight is a range. For that reason many clinicians prefer the BMI range, which the tool also shows, and pair it with waist size.
Sleep helps you reach a healthy weight
Regular sleep supports the hormones that control hunger. If you are working toward a goal weight, plan your night with the bedtime calculator and track your BMI over time.