What is ideal body weight?

Ideal body weight (IBW) is an estimate of optimal weight for a given height and sex, derived from clinical formulas developed in the mid-20th century. The most common are Devine (1974), Hamwi (1964), Robinson (1983), and Miller (1983). These formulas were originally developed for medication dosing, not cosmetic purposes. They do not account for muscle mass, bone density, age, or ethnicity.

How does ideal weight differ for Asian populations?

Standard ideal weight formulas (Hamwi, Devine) were developed from Western population data. Asian populations tend to have higher body fat at lower BMI values, with greater metabolic risk. The Asia-Pacific BMI guidelines (overweight ≥23, obese ≥27.5 instead of WHO's ≥25 and ≥30) implicitly recommend lower healthy weight ranges for East and South Asian individuals. At 170 cm, the WHO healthy range (BMI 18.5–24.9) is 53–72 kg, while the Asia-Pacific healthy range (BMI 18.5–22.9) is 53–66 kg.

Which ideal weight formula is most accurate?

The Devine formula (1974) is the most cited in medical literature, particularly for calculating medication doses in hospitalized patients. However, all IBW formulas have limitations — they predict population averages, not individual optimal weights. The WHO BMI-based healthy range (18.5–24.9) is considered more clinically meaningful for most purposes. For muscular individuals, IBW formulas may suggest inappropriately low targets.

What is the ideal weight for a 5'7" woman?

At 5'7" (170 cm), the Devine formula gives an ideal weight of approximately 61 kg (134 lbs) for women. The WHO BMI healthy range (18.5–24.9) corresponds to 53–72 kg (117–158 lbs). The Asia-Pacific healthy range (BMI 18.5–22.9) is 53–66 kg (117–146 lbs). The "ideal" weight varies significantly by formula and population standard.

🌍 WHO BMI Range 🌏 Asia-Pacific Devine Formula Hamwi Formula

Ideal Weight Calculator

There is no single "ideal" weight — it depends on which formula and which population standard you use. This calculator shows four clinical formulas and the WHO BMI-based healthy range so you can see how they compare.

Quick Answer

At 175 cm (5'9"), ideal weight ranges from roughly 67–79 kg depending on the formula used. The WHO BMI healthy range (18.5–24.9) gives 57–77 kg. Asian clinical guidelines suggest lower ideal ranges due to higher metabolic risk at lower BMI. The Devine formula (most cited in medicine) gives approximately 71 kg for men, 66 kg for women at this height.

Sex

Height (cm)

Ideal Weight by Standard — 175 cm Male

Standard / Formula	Ideal Weight	Used In
WHO BMI healthy range	57–77 kg (125–169 lbs)	🌍 Global — US, UK, Canada, Australia
Asia-Pacific BMI range	57–70 kg (125–154 lbs)	🌏 Singapore, HK, Taiwan, India
Japan JASSO healthy BMI	57–77 kg (same as WHO)	🇯🇵 Japan (obese ≥25 threshold differs)
Devine Formula (1974)	≈ 70.5 kg (155 lbs)	🏥 Medical drug dosing globally
Hamwi Formula (1964)	≈ 72.6 kg (160 lbs)	🏥 Clinical nutrition, US
Robinson Formula (1983)	≈ 69.9 kg (154 lbs)	🇺🇸 NHANES-derived
Miller Formula (1983)	≈ 74.8 kg (165 lbs)	🇺🇸 Often gives highest estimate

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ideal weight for a 5'4" woman? ▾

At 5'4" (163 cm), the Devine formula gives approximately 52 kg (114 lbs). The WHO BMI healthy range (18.5–24.9) is 49–66 kg (108–145 lbs). The Asia-Pacific BMI healthy range (18.5–22.9) is 49–61 kg (108–134 lbs). The ideal weight differs by roughly 5–10 kg between Western and Asian-Pacific population standards.

Why are Asian ideal weight ranges lower? ▾

Research shows that East and South Asian populations have higher body fat percentages and face greater metabolic disease risk (type 2 diabetes, hypertension) at lower BMI values compared to people of European descent. The Asia-Pacific guidelines (overweight ≥23, obese ≥27.5) were adopted by health authorities in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, and applied by the UK NHS for patients of South Asian, Black African, and Caribbean heritage.

Should muscular people use ideal weight formulas? ▾

No. IBW formulas and BMI both fail to distinguish muscle from fat. A 175 cm male bodybuilder may weigh 90 kg with 8% body fat — clinically healthy but "obese" by BMI and well above IBW. For athletic individuals, body fat percentage (ideally measured by DEXA) is a more meaningful health metric than weight alone.

Related calculators

BMI Calculator →

WHO, Asia-Pacific, Japan & China standards compared

Body Fat Calculator →

US Navy method — more accurate than BMI

Lean Body Mass →

Muscle + bone mass without fat

Waist-to-Hip Ratio →

WHO risk classification by waist and hip

Sources & Methodology

Ideal weight ranges combine the BMI-based healthy range (WHO) with the classic Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas; results differ because each formula was derived for a different clinical purpose.

Standards and figures reviewed 2026.