Body Composition
BMI-based healthy weight range
Returns a band rather than a point. At 175 cm it runs from 56.65625 to 76.5625 kg, which is a more honest answer than any single figure.
The Formula
Low = 18.5 x height_m^2, High = 25 x height_m^2
Returns a band rather than a point. At 175 cm it runs from 56.65625 to 76.5625 kg, which is a more honest answer than any single figure.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMI | Body mass index at the edge of the range | kg per square metre | 18.5 and 25 are the conventional lower and upper bounds. |
| h_m | Height in metres | metres | Centimetres divided by 100, so 175 cm becomes 1.75 m. |
| W | Weight at that BMI | kilograms | Evaluated twice, once per bound, to give the two ends of the band. |
What Each Symbol Means
BMIkg per square metre
Body mass index at the edge of the range
18.5 and 25 are the conventional lower and upper bounds.
h_mmetres
Height in metres
Centimetres divided by 100, so 175 cm becomes 1.75 m.
Wkilograms
Weight at that BMI
Evaluated twice, once per bound, to give the two ends of the band.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate ideal body weight page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Ideal Body Weight, filed under Health. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.