General
Ideal Body Weight (IBW)
Calculate ideal body weight using the Devine formula.
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Parameters
Ideal Body Weight (IBW) Result
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Formula
Men: 50 + 2.3 × (Height in inches - 60)
Women: 45.5 + 2.3 × (Height in inches - 60)Clinical Pearls
Ideal Body Weight is frequently used to calculate dosages of certain medications (e.g., aminoglycosides, acyclovir) to prevent toxicity, as these drugs do not distribute well into fat tissue. It is also used to calculate tidal volumes for patients on mechanical ventilation.
Limitations
The Devine formula was initially developed empirically for medication dosing and may not reflect a true "healthy" weight across all body types. It is not generally validated for patients shorter than 5 feet (60 inches).