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What is a healthy weight for your height?

Jillian Foglesong Stabile, MD

Jillian Foglesong Stabile

MD, FAAFP, DABOM

Sipra Medical Reviewer

  • American Board of Family Medicine
  • American Board of Obesity Medicine
  • Wake Forest University School of Medicine
FAAFP, DABOM · Reviewed June 10, 2026 · BMI band plus the Devine formula
A rough self-estimate from wrist size or build; it only nudges the reference figure.

A worked example

A man 5 ft 10 in tall with a medium frame

Healthy BMI range
18.5 to 24.9
Reference body weight (Devine)
161 lb
Frame adjustment
small -10%, medium 0, large +10%

Reference weights are population averages from the 1970s, so the range matters more than any single figure in it.

Run your own numbers in the tool above.

Chapter 01 · The range

Why a range beats a single number

There is no one ideal weight. A healthier way to think about it is a range. The headline figure here is the weight span that corresponds to a body mass index of 18.5 to 24.9 for your height, the band the World Health Organization classifies as a healthy weight for most adults.1 Anywhere in that band is generally considered healthy; where you sit within it is individual.

*12 month plan, billed once for the term when a physician approves. Renews each term.

The second figure is a reference body weight from the Devine formula, a clinical estimate first used for medication dosing, adjusted up or down by about 10 percent for frame size.2 It is a single reference point, not a target you must hit. Frame size is a rough self-estimate, so treat that adjustment loosely.
FigureWhat it isHow to use it
Healthy rangeWeights at BMI 18.5 to 24.9A broad, evidence-based band
Reference weightDevine formula, frame-adjustedOne point inside or near the band
Frame sizeSmall, medium, or large buildNudges the reference, not the range

BMI does not measure muscle or fat directly; a clinician interprets it with your history.

Chapter 02 · The fine print

What BMI cannot tell you

BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnosis or a measure of health. It does not account for muscle, bone density, or where you carry weight, so a very muscular person can read as overweight while someone within the band can still have metabolic concerns. Waist measurement, blood pressure, blood sugar, and your history matter alongside the number. A clinician puts these together; the calculator cannot.
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Start here · one question
What's your goal weight?
Choose a goal to discuss with your clinician. You can change it in your intake.
Use the range as orientation, not a verdict. If you want to change your weight, a clinician can help you set a goal that fits your body and your health. Individual results vary.

Frequently asked questions

Lose weight with a plan made just for you

  • Same-day doctor visits and prescriptions
  • Semaglutide, tirzepatide & other GLP-1s
  • FSA & HSA eligible with all plans
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From$149/mo

From price shown is the 12-month plan rate. Prices may vary.

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Sources

  1. World Health Organization. "Body mass index (BMI)." WHO factsheet, healthy range 18.5 to 24.9. who.int
  2. Devine BJ. "Gentamicin therapy." Drug Intelligence and Clinical Pharmacy. 1974;8:650-655 (origin of the ideal body weight formula). doi.org
Screening estimate only, not a diagnosis or a health verdict. BMI does not measure body composition. A clinician interprets weight alongside your full history. Individual results vary. Last reviewed June 10, 2026 by Jillian Foglesong Stabile, MD, FAAFP, DABOM. Prices snapshot BMI band plus the Devine formula.
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