Health
What is your ideal weight for your height?
Estimate your ideal weight with the Lorenz formula and the healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9).
Quick answer
The Lorenz formula gives a single "ideal weight" estimate: for men, height (cm) − 100 − (height − 150) ÷ 4; for women, height − 100 − (height − 150) ÷ 2. A 175 cm man: 175 − 100 − 6.25 = 68.8 kg. The healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9) for the same height is 56.7–76.3 kg — a wider band.
Ideal weight (Lorenz formula)
68.8 kg
- Healthy BMI weight range (18.5–24.9)
- 56.7 – 76.3 kg
Indicative estimate based on statistical formulas: real ideal weight depends on muscle mass, age and body composition. It does not replace professional advice.
How it works
Ideal weight formulas are statistical shortcuts from the early 20th century. Frame size, muscle mass and age all shift what is healthy for you. Treat the Lorenz number as a midpoint, not a target you must hit. Pair it with BMI range and waist circumference — a smart scale trend over weeks beats chasing a single number on the scale.
Strength training can push healthy weight above Lorenz without excess fat — track body composition, not just kg. If you are cutting for sport, aim for the BMI band you can sustain with adequate protein and energy. Eating disorders, pregnancy or adolescents: discuss targets with a clinician. Screening tool only, not medical advice.
Two anchors are usually more useful than the formula. The weight you carried in your early twenties while healthy and active is a better personal reference than a table built on population averages — it already accounts for your frame, which no equation can see. And the target is not fixed for life: in older adults a slightly higher body weight is generally associated with better outcomes than a low one, so an "ideal weight" taken from an early twentieth-century formula can point the wrong way at seventy. Use it as a midpoint to think around, never as a number to reach.
Frequently asked questions
Lorenz vs Devine formula — which is better?+
Both are rough estimates with similar accuracy. Lorenz is common in Italy; Devine (used in medicine for drug dosing) gives slightly different numbers. Neither accounts for body composition — use the BMI range alongside any single-number estimate, and measure waist at the navel for central fat risk.
Why is my ideal weight lower than I look healthy at?+
If you carry significant muscle, every formula based on height alone will underestimate your healthy weight. Compare yourself to the BMI range and body-fat percentage rather than a single Lorenz number. Athletes in strength sports often sit 5–15 kg above Lorenz while remaining lean.
Does ideal weight change with age?+
Standard formulas ignore age. Some research suggests a slightly higher BMI (up to 27) may be protective in adults over 65. Discuss targets with your doctor if you are older or managing chronic conditions — unintentional weight loss in seniors is often a bigger concern than a few extra kg.
How much should I weigh to run faster?+
Elite distance runners often have BMI 18–21, but chasing a number can backfire if it means losing muscle or under-fuelling. Performance improves most reliably from training volume, not extreme weight loss. Female runners should watch for missed periods — a sign energy intake is too low.
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