How Much Should I Weigh?

Most people have tried to lose weight or known someone who has. This is often driven by the idea of an “ideal” body weight promoted through media. However, **Ideal Body Weight (IBW)** was originally created to help determine proper medication dosages, not as a beauty standard.

IBW formulas are still widely used in medicine and sports. That said, IBW is an imperfect measurement because it does not consider muscle mass, body fat percentage, or body frame size. It is possible to be above or below your calculated IBW and still be perfectly healthy.

Factors That Affect Ideal Weight

Several factors influence what a healthy weight looks like for an individual:

• Age: After age 14–17, most people stop growing. As we age, muscle mass naturally decreases and body fat can increase.
• Gender: On average, males weigh more than females at the same height due to higher muscle mass and bone density.
• Height: Taller people naturally have more muscle and fat mass.
• Body Frame Size: People with larger bone structures weigh more than those with smaller frames at the same height.

Ideal Weight Formulas

All formulas use a base weight at 5 feet (152.4 cm) with an additional amount per inch above that height. Here are the four most popular formulas:

Healthy BMI Range

The World Health Organization recommends a healthy BMI range of 18.5 – 24.9 for adults. This range is widely used by doctors to assess potential health risks. Our calculator shows your healthy weight range based on this BMI standard.

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