Enter your height, sex, and actual body weight into the adjusted body weight calculator. The calculator will display both your ideal body weight and your adjusted body weight.

Adjusted Body Weight Formula

The following formula is used to calculate your adjusted body weight.

ABW= IBW + 0.4 * (AW – IBW)
  • Where ABW is your adjusted body weight
  • IBW is your ideal body weight
  • AW is your actual weight.

In this case, your ideal body weight is determined by your height and sex using formulas like the ones below.

Male: IBW = 50 kg + 2.3 * (Height – 60 in)
Female: IBW = 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg * (Height – 60 in)

Adjusted Body Weight Definition

Adjusted body weight is a calculation used in the medical field to estimate an individual’s ideal weight in situations where the person’s actual weight may not be an accurate representation of their overall health. It considers factors such as height, gender, and body composition to provide a more accurate measure of a person’s weight.

The importance of adjusted body weight lies in its ability to assist healthcare professionals in determining appropriate dosages of medications and therapies for patients.

Since certain medications are dosed based on body weight, using the patient’s actual weight may lead to incorrect dosing, potentially resulting in adverse effects or ineffective treatment.

Adjusted body weight helps minimize these risks by providing a more suitable weight value that considers the individual’s unique characteristics.

For instance, individuals with a higher muscle mass or overall body size may have a higher actual weight, but this does not necessarily indicate excess body fat or an increased risk of health issues.

On the other hand, someone with a lower muscle mass or a smaller frame may have a lower actual weight but still have significant body fat or health concerns.

How to calculate adjusted body weight?

How to calculate adjusted body weight

  1. First, measure your height

    This value will be used in determining your ideal body weight.

  2. Next, measure your weight

    Using an accurate scale, measure your ideal body weight.

  3. Calculate your ideal body weight

    Calculate your ideal body weight using one of the two formulas above.

  4. Calculate your adjusted body weight

    Using your ideal weight and actual weight, calculate your adjusted body weight.

FAQ

What is adjusted body weight?

Adjusted body weight is a metric used for determining a person’s nutritional requirements. It’s often used when a person’s actual body weight is far out of line with their ideal body weight.

What is an ideal body weight?

Ideal body weight is a weight that a person of a certain height and gender should be for optimal health.