IBW (Ideal Body Weight)
This is another term you may hear thrown around a lot when it comes to health. I’m including this along with BMI because they’re used a lot when it comes to nutrition assessments. IBW stands for Ideal Body Weight. A person’s Ideal Body Weight is believed to be maximally healthful for a person, based chiefly on height but modified by factors such as gender, age, build, and degree of muscular development. This may sound vaguely familiar if you read my page on BMI (Body Mass Index). Much like BMI, IBW is based on Anthropometry, which is the scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body.
There are many different calculations for IBW, but results should typically fall within the same ballpark. Click on the link below to calculate your IBW. This site will show you the results of several IBW calculators (your results will most likely be within about 5 pounds of each other).
http://www.calculator.net/ideal-weight-calculator.html
One way to calculate your IBW manually would be to use the Hamwi formula listed below.
Male = 106 lb for the first 5 ft + 6 lb for each additional inch.
Female = 100 lb for the first 5 ft + 5 lb for each additional inch.
Once you’ve calculated your IBW you must determine at what % you are. To do this complete the following calculation: Current weight divided by your IBW x 100. This will tell you your percent IBW.
Below the percentage categories are broken down into interpretations of weight.
110-120% of IBW – Overweight
90 – 109% of IBW – Adequate
80 – 89% of IBW – Underweight
70-79% of IBW – Moderately Underweight
Less than 70% of IBW – Severely Underweight
For me, IBW falls into the same category as BMI. Do I think you should know where you stand when it comes to IBW? Yes. Do I think you should obsess about it? No.
IBW is a quick assessment when it comes to weight in relation to height but it doesn’t take everything into consideration. You must also consider your health status, muscular build, body shape, genetics, etc.
As I stated with BMI, I think it is good to know and understand what IBW is and know that it isn’t a perfect calculation across the board. If you fall within a category that isn’t satisfactory to you, you may want to focus on areas within your lifestyle that can be improved upon. You know, maybe a few less donuts here and there and maybe start taking an evening stroll around the neighborhood after dinner.