What Is "Ideal" Weight?
The classic ideal-body-weight formulas were developed mainly for medical dosing — Devine's 1974 formula, for instance, standardizes drug doses by height. They remain popular as rough targets, and looking at several formulas plus their average gives a more honest picture than any single number.
The Four Formulas (for height over 5 ft / 152 cm)
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Robinson (1983) | 52 kg + 1.9 kg/in over 5 ft | 49 kg + 1.7 kg/in |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg/in | 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg/in |
| Devine (1974) | 50 kg + 2.3 kg/in | 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg/in |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 kg + 2.7 kg/in | 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg/in |
Worked Example
A 175 cm man (≈ 8.9 in over 5 ft): Robinson ≈ 68.9 kg, Miller ≈ 68.7 kg, Devine ≈ 70.4 kg, Hamwi ≈ 72.0 kg — average ≈ 70 kg. Note how the formulas span a 3 kg range; treat the result as a zone, not a target to hit exactly.
A Healthier Way to Think About It
Body composition, fitness, and metabolic health markers matter more than a formula weight. The BMI-based healthy range (18.5–24.9) for the same height spans 56.7–76.3 kg — much wider than any "ideal" point. Use these numbers as orientation, not judgment.