The Cardiovascular
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Ideal and adjusted body weight

Ideal and adjusted body weight
Sex
Height
Actual body weight
Complete the fields above to see the result.

When to use

  • Weight-based drug dosing and ventilator tidal-volume setting (6 mL/kg IBW), and as the basis for adjusted body weight in obesity.

Formula

IBW (Devine) = 50 kg (men) or 45.5 kg (women) + 2.3 kg per inch over 60 inches. Adjusted BW = IBW + 0.4 × (actual − IBW).

Pearls and pitfalls

  • Lung-protective ventilation uses IBW, not actual weight, because lung size tracks height rather than adiposity.

References

  1. Devine BJ. Gentamicin therapy. Drug Intell Clin Pharm. 1974;8:650–5.