Use this formula to calculate what your ideal body weight is.
Determine Body Frame Type
To determine this, wrap your right hand around your left wrist. If your thumb and index finger overlap each other you have a small frame type. If your thumb and index finger slightly touch, you have a medium frame type, and if your thumb and index fingers do not touch, you have a large frame type.
Calculate
Women: Add 100 pounds for the first 5 feet of your height, then add 5 pounds for each inch thereafter.
Men: Add 106 pounds for the first 5 feet of your height, then add 6 pounds for each inch thereafter.
Once you calculate your ideal body weight number, add the following based on your frame type you figured out. Add 10 pounds for a large frame size, and subtract 10 pounds for a small frame size. If you are a medium frame size don’t add anything extra.
Do keep in mind, however, these are for an estimated average. A person’s muscle density can affect the results. In other words, if you have a lot of strong muscle, you could weigh more than the determined weight but look thinner than the average person would at the same weight and height.
But unless you’re good and muscle bound, this is a reasonable formula for the average person to use to determine a goal weight.
Female Example
- Height: 5 feet 7 inches tall
- Current weight: 145 pounds
- Wrapping fingers around her wrist, she determines she has a medium frame.
- Adding 100 pounds for the first 5 feet, then 5 pounds for each inch over (an additional 35 pounds) for a total of 135.
- Since she’s determined she has a medium frame, this is her ideal body weight.
Male Example
- Height: 6 feet 1 inch tall.
- Current weight: 145 pounds
- Wrapping fingers around his wrist, he determines he has a large frame.
- Adding 100 pounds for the first 5 feet, then 6 pounds for each inch over (an additional 78 pounds) for a total of 178.
- He then must add 10 more pounds because he has a large frame, making his ideal body weight 188 pounds.
