Body Composition Formula

Ideal Body Weight Formula (Devine)

Devine's 1974 equation was built for drug dosing, not aesthetics. It pegs a 'reference' weight at 152 cm and adds linearly above that. Treat it as one input among several, not a target.

2 VARIABLESPublished Mar 12, 2026Updated May 10, 2026Live Content

By Orbyd Editorial · AI Fit Hub Team

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Formula 2 variables Worked example Variations

Education · Not medical advice. Output is deterministic math from your inputs.Editorial standards Sponsor disclosure Corrections

Formula

Copy the exact expression or work through it step by step below.

 Devine — Male:   IBW_kg = 50  + 2.3·(height_in − 60)
Devine — Female: IBW_kg = 45.5 + 2.3·(height_in − 60)

Variables

IBW

Ideal Body Weight

Kilograms. Originally a dosing reference, now repurposed for general 'reference weight at this height' questions — with caveats.

height_in

Height

Inches. Multiply cm by 0.3937 to convert.

Step By Step

1

Convert height to inches if you measured in centimeters.

178 cm × 0.3937 = 70.07 in.
2

Subtract 60 inches (the Devine reference height for both sexes).

70.07 − 60 = 10.07 inches above reference.
3

Multiply the difference by 2.3 kg.

10.07 × 2.3 = 23.16 kg above the baseline.
4

Add the sex-specific baseline: 50 kg for men, 45.5 kg for women.

Male: 50 + 23.16 = 73.16 kg. Female at the same height: 45.5 + 23.16 = 68.66 kg.

Worked Example

Male, 178 cm

Sex

Male

Height (cm)

178

IBW = 50 + 2.3·(70.07 − 60) = 50 + 23.16 = 73.16 kg

Devine 'ideal' 73.2 kg at 178 cm. A muscular trained male typically lands 5–10 kg above this without elevated body fat.

Common Variations

Robinson (1983): male 52 + 1.9·(in−60); female 49 + 1.7·(in−60). Updated coefficients.

Miller (1983): male 56.2 + 1.41·(in−60). Lower estimates than Devine.

Hamwi (1964): male 48 + 2.7·(in−60). Earliest of the four, mostly historical interest.

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Sources & References

Devine BJ. Gentamicin therapy — Drug Intelligence and Clinical Pharmacy (1974)
Pai MP, Paloucek FP. The origin of the 'ideal' body weight equations — Annals of Pharmacotherapy (2000)