Ideal Weight Calculator: Where the Devine Formula Comes From
Ideal weight formulas date back to drug dosing, not beauty standards. Here is what the Devine number means — and what it does not.
What is the Ideal Weight Calculator?
The Devine formula gives a reference weight based on height alone: a base weight for a five-foot person, plus a fixed amount for each inch above five feet, with different base values for men and women. This tool also shows a range ten percent either side of that figure, because healthy weights vary widely. The result is general information only, not medical advice, and it ignores build, muscle, and age.
How to use it
- Enter your height in centimetres.
- Select Male or Female.
- Read your ideal reference weight and its range.
Worked example
A man 180 cm tall (about 70.87 inches, or 10.87 inches over five feet) has a Devine ideal weight of 74.99 kg, with a range of 67.49 kg to 82.49 kg.
What is ideal body weight?
Ideal body weight is a height-based reference figure, originally devised to help dose medicines. The Devine version starts at 50 kg for a five-foot man or 45.5 kg for a five-foot woman, then adds 2.3 kg per inch above five feet. It is a useful rough benchmark, but frame size, muscle, and health matter far more than hitting the number exactly.
Frequently asked questions
Is this my only healthy weight?
No — it is a reference point, not a rule. Many healthy people sit well outside it, especially if they are muscular or slight of build.
What if I am under five feet tall?
The formula still works mathematically, subtracting for inches below five feet, but the result is less meaningful at very short heights.