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Human body weight is a person'smass or weight.
Strictly speaking, body weight is the measurement ofmass without items located on the person. Practically though, body weight may be measured with clothes on, but without shoes or heavy accessories such as mobile phones and wallets, and using manual or digitalweighing scales. Excess or reduced body weight is regarded as an indicator of determining a person's health, with body volume measurement providing an extra dimension by calculating the distribution of body weight.
Average adult human weight varies by continent, from about 60 kg (130 lb) in Asia and Africa to about 80 kg (180 lb) in North America, with men on average weighing more than women.
There are a number of methods to estimate weight in children for circumstances (such as emergencies) when actual weight cannot be measured. Most involve aparent or health care provider guessing the child's weight through weight-estimation formulas. These formulas base their findings on the child's age and tape-based systems of weight estimation. Of the many formulas that have been used for estimating body weight, some include theAdvanced Pediatric Life Support formula, the Leffler formula, and Theron formula.[1] There are also several types of tape-based systems for estimating children's weight, with the best-known being theBroselow tape.[2] The Broselow tape is based on length with weight read from the appropriate color area. Newer systems, such as the PAWPER tape, make use of a simple two-step process to estimate weight: the length-based weight estimation is modified according to the child's bodyhabitus to increase the accuracy of the final weight prediction.[3]
The Leffler formula is used for children 0–10 years of age.[1] In those less than a year old, it is
and for those 1–10 years old, it is
wherem is the number of kilograms the child weighs andam anday respectively are the number of months or years old the child is.[1]
The Theron formula is
wherem anday are as above.[1]
Body weight varies in small amounts throughout the day, as the amount of water in the body is not constant. It changes due to activities such as drinking, urinating, or exercise.[4] Professional sports participants may deliberately dehydrate themselves to enter a lower weight class, a practice known asweight cutting.[5]
Ideal body weight (IBW) was initially introduced by Ben J. Devine in 1974 to allow estimation of drugclearances in obese patients;[6] researchers have since shown that themetabolism of certain drugs relates more to IBW than total body weight.[7] The term was based on the use of insurance data that demonstrated the relative mortality for males and females according to different height-weight combinations.
The most common estimation of IBW is by the Devine formula; other models exist and have been noted to give similar results.[7] Other methods used in estimating the ideal body weight arebody mass index and the Hamwi method. The IBW is not the perfect fat measurement, as it does not show the fat or muscle percentage in one's body. For example, athletes' results may show that they are overweight when they are actually very fit and healthy. Machines like thedual-energy X-ray absorptiometry can accurately measure the percentage and weight of fat, muscle, and bone in a body.
The Devine formula for calculating ideal body weight in adults is as follows:[7]
The Hamwi method is used to calculate the ideal body weight of the general adult:[8]
Many disciplines inweightlifting orcombat sports separate competitors intoweight classes.
Ideal body weight, specifically theDevine formula, is used clinically for multiple reasons, most commonly in estimating renal function in drug dosing, and predictingpharmacokinetics in morbidly obese patients.[9][10]
Data from 2005:
| Region | Adult population (millions) | Average weight | % Overweight | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 535 | 60.7 kg (133.8 lb) | 28.9% | [11] |
| Asia | 2,815 | 57.7 kg (127.2 lb) | 24.2% | [11] |
| Europe | 606 | 70.8 kg (156.1 lb) | 55.6% | [11] |
| Latin America and theCaribbean | 386 | 67.9 kg (149.7 lb) | 57.9% | [11] |
| North America | 263 | 80.7 kg (177.9 lb) | 73.9% | [11] |
| Oceania | 24 | 74.1 kg (163.4 lb) | 63.3% | [11] |
| World | 4,630 | 62.0 kg (136.7 lb) | 34.7% | [11] |
| Country | Average male weight | Average female weight | Sample population / age range | Method | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 69.2 kg (152.6 lb) | 62.6 kg (138.0 lb) | 18–69 | Measured | 2018 | [12] |
 Algeria | 68.7 kg (151.5 lb) | 65.1 kg (143.5 lb) | 25–64 | Measured | 2005 | [13] |
 Armenia | 74.6 kg (164.5 lb) | 66.4 kg (146.4 lb) | 18–69 | Measured | 2016 | [14] |
 Australia | 87.0 kg (191.8 lb) | 71.8 kg (158.3 lb) | 18+ | Measured | 2018 | [15] |
 Azerbaijan | 72.1 kg (159.0 lb) | 65.7 kg (144.8 lb) | 16+ | Measured | 2005 | [16] |
 Bangladesh | 55.2 kg (121.7 lb) | 49.8 kg (109.8 lb) | 25+ | Measured | 2009–2010 | [17] |
 Belarus | 69 kg (152.1 lb) | 56 kg (123.5 lb) | 18+ | Measured | 2008 | [18] |
 Belize | 74.2 kg (163.6 lb) | 70.5 kg (155.4 lb) | 20+ | Measured | 2010 | [19] |
 Benin | 63.7 kg (140.4 lb) | 60.9 kg (134.3 lb) | 18–69 | Measured | 2015 | [20] |
 Bhutan | 63.2 kg (139.3 lb) | 57.4 kg (126.5 lb) | 18–69 | Measured | 2014 | [21] |
 Botswana | 63.6 kg (140.2 lb) | 64.3 kg (141.8 lb) | 15–69 | Measured | 2014 | [22] |
 Brazil | 72.7 kg (160.3 lb) | 62.5 kg (137.8 lb) | 20–74 | Measured | 2008–2009 | [23] |
 Brunei | 74.1 kg (163.4 lb) | 62.9 kg (138.7 lb) | 19+ | Measured | 2010–2011 | [24] |
 Bulgaria | 76.9 kg (169.5 lb) | 69.1 kg (152.3 lb) | 21-59 | Self-reported | 2021 | [25] |
 Burkina Faso | 65.2 kg (143.7 lb) | 59.0 kg (130.1 lb) | 25–64 | Measured | 2013 | [26] |
 Cambodia | 56.8 kg (125.2 lb) | 50.8 kg (112.0 lb) | 25–64 | Measured | 2010 | [27] |
 Cameroon | 68.3 kg (150.6 lb) | 67.0 kg (147.7 lb) | 15+ | Measured | 2003 | [28] |
 Canada | 84.6 kg (187 lb) | 70.1 kg (155 lb) | 18–79 | Measured | 2007–2009 | [29] |
 Chile | 77.3 kg (170.4 lb) | 67.5 kg (148.8 lb) | 15+ | Measured | 2009–2010 | [30] |
 Costa Rica -San José | 76.6 kg (168.9 lb) | 64.9 kg (143.1 lb) | 20+ | Measured | 2010 | [31] |
 Czech Republic | 92.1 kg (203.0 lb) | 73.8 kg (162.7 lb) | 25–64 | Measured | 2016–2017 | [32] |
 Estonia | 84.4 kg (186.1 lb) | 71.2 kg (157.0 lb) | 18+ | Measured | 2003–2010 | [33] |
 France | 77.1 kg (170 lb) | 62.7 kg (138 lb) | 15+ | Measured | 2005 | [34] |
 Georgia | 84.4 kg (186.1 lb) | 73.6 kg (162.3 lb) | 18–69 | Measured | 2016 | [35] |
 Germany | 85.9 kg (189.4 lb) | 69.2 kg (152.6 lb) | 18+ | Self-reported | 2021 | [36] |
 India | 65.0 kg (143.3 lb) | 55.0 kg (121.3 lb) | 16+ | Measured | 2020 | [37] |
 Norway | 86.6 kg (190.9 lb) | 71.6 kg (157.9 lb) | 18+ | Self-reported | 2020 | [38] |
 Oman | 74.9 kg (165.1 lb) | 68.1 kg (150.1 lb) | 18+ | Measured | 2017 | [39] |
 Pakistan | 66.0 kg (145.5 lb) | 59.0 kg (130.1 lb) | 18–69 | Measured | 2013–2014 | [40] |
 Papua New Guinea | 62.5 kg (137.8 lb) | 56.8 kg (125.2 lb) | 15–64 | Measured | 2007–2008 | [41] |
 Qatar | 84.6 kg (186.5 lb) | 73.4 kg (161.8 lb) | 18–64 | Measured | 2012 | [42] |
 Russia | 70.6 kg (155.6 lb) | 60.2 kg (132.7 lb) | 19+ | Measured | 2018 | [43] |
 Rwanda | 58.4 kg (128.7 lb) | 55.9 kg (123.2 lb) | 15–64 | Measured | 2012–2013 | [44] |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis | 84.5 kg (186.3 lb) | 83.0 kg (183.0 lb) | 25–64 | Measured | 2007–2008 | [45] |
 Saudi Arabia | 77.3 kg (170.4 lb) | 71.7 kg (158.1 lb) | 25–64 | Measured | 2005 | [46] |
 Serbia | 84.6 kg (186.5 lb) | 70.0 kg (154.3 lb) | 20+ | Measured | 2013 | [47] |
 Sierra Leone | 62.0 kg (136.7 lb) | 59.0 kg (130.1 lb) | 25–64 | Measured | 2009 | [48] |
 Solomon Islands | 75.3 kg (166.0 lb) | 70.4 kg (155.2 lb) | 25–64 | Measured | 2006 | [49] |
 South Korea | 73.34 kg (161.7 lb) | 58.29 kg (128.5 lb) | 18+ | Measured | 2019 | [50] |
 Spain | 82.4 kg (181.7 lb) | 66.6 kg (146.8 lb) | 18–64 | Measured | 2013 | [51] |
 Sri Lanka | 61.4 kg (135.4 lb) | 54.6 kg (120.4 lb) | 18–69 | Measured | 2014–2015 | [52] |
 Sudan | 65.4 kg (144.2 lb) | 61.6 kg (135.8 lb) | 18–69 | Measured | 2016 | [53] |
 Sweden | 81.9 kg (180.6 lb) | 66.7 kg (147.0 lb) | 16–84 | Measured | 2003–2004 | [54] |
 Togo | 63.2 kg (139.3 lb) | 60.0 kg (132.3 lb) | 15–64 | Measured | 2010 | [55] |
 Tonga | 99.4 kg (219.1 lb) | 97.7 kg (215.4 lb) | 25–64 | Measured | 2012 | [56] |
 Trinidad and Tobago | 76.7 kg (169.1 lb) | 71.1 kg (156.7 lb) | 15–64 | Measured | 2011 | [57] |
 Turkey | 78.0 kg (172.0 lb) | 70.1 kg (154.5 lb) | 15+ | Measured | 2017 | [58] |
 Turkmenistan | 76.6 kg (168.9 lb) | 67.4 kg (148.6 lb) | 18–69 | Measured | 2018 | [59] |
 United Kingdom –England | 85.4 kg (188.3 lb) | 72.1 kg (159.0 lb) | 16+ | Measured | 2019 | [60] |
| United Kingdom –Wales | 84.0 kg (185.2 lb) | 69.0 kg (152.1 lb) | 16+ | Measured | 2009 | [61] |
 Ukraine | 80.0 kg (176.4 lb) | 71.0 kg (156.5 lb) | 18+ | Measured | 2020 | [62] |
 United States | 90.6 kg (199.7 lb) | 77.5 kg (170.9 lb) | 20+ | Measured | 2015–2018 | [63] |
Researchers at theLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine published a study of average weights of adult humans in the journalBMC Public Health and at the United Nations conferenceRio+20.[64]
| Rank | Country | Kilograms | Pounds | Relative size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Micronesia | 87.398 | 192.68 | 192.68 |
| 2 | Tonga | 87.344 | 192.56 | 192.56 |
| 3 | United States | 81.928 | 180.62 | 180.62 |
| 4 | Samoa | 78.544 | 173.16 | 173.16 |
| 5 | Kuwait | 77.791 | 171.50 | 171.5 |
| 6 | Australia | 77.356 | 170.54 | 170.54 |
| 7 | Malta | 76.956 | 169.66 | 169.66 |
| 8 | Qatar | 76.866 | 169.46 | 169.46 |
| 9 | Croatia | 76.412 | 168.46 | 168.46 |
| 10 | United Kingdom | 75.795 | 167.10 | 167.1 |
| 11 | UAE | 75.532 | 166.52 | 166.52 |
| 12 | Greece | 75.038 | 165.43 | 165.43 |
| 13 | Cyprus | 74.802 | 164.91 | 164.91 |
| 14 | Egypt | 74.271 | 163.74 | 163.74 |
| 15 | Barbados | 73.831 | 162.77 | 162.77 |
| 16 | Belarus | 73.663 | 162.40 | 162.4 |
| 17 | Bahrain | 73.550 | 162.15 | 162.15 |
| 18 | Germany | 73.042 | 161.03 | 161.03 |
| 19 | Solomon Islands | 72.797 | 160.49 | 160.49 |
| 20 | Austria | 72.743 | 160.37 | 160.37 |
| 21 | Saudi Arabia | 72.638 | 160.14 | 160.14 |
| 22 | Iceland | 72.584 | 160.02 | 160.02 |
| 23 | Trinidad & Tobago | 72.538 | 159.92 | 159.92 |
| 24 | Argentina | 72.434 | 159.69 | 159.69 |
| 25 | Bahamas | 72.380 | 159.57 | 159.57 |
| 26 | Finland | 72.348 | 159.50 | 159.5 |
| 27 | Israel | 71.912 | 158.54 | 158.54 |
| 28 | Czech Rep. | 71.640 | 157.94 | 157.94 |
| 29 | New Zealand | 71.631 | 157.92 | 157.92 |
| 30 | Bulgaria | 71.459 | 157.54 | 157.54 |
| 31 | Russia | 71.418 | 157.45 | 157.45 |
| 32 | Slovenia | 71.200 | 156.97 | 156.97 |
| 33 | Slovakia | 71.060 | 156.66 | 156.66 |
| 34 | Albania | 71.019 | 156.57 | 156.57 |
| 35 | Bosnia | 71.001 | 156.53 | 156.53 |
| 36 | Switzerland | 70.987 | 156.50 | 156.5 |
| 37 | Rep. of Moldova | 70.978 | 156.48 | 156.48 |
| 38 | Venezuela | 70.788 | 156.06 | 156.06 |
| 39 | Chile | 70.593 | 155.63 | 155.63 |
| 40 | Georgia | 70.561 | 155.56 | 155.56 |
| 41 | Spain | 70.556 | 155.55 | 155.55 |
| 42 | Azerbaijan | 70.484 | 155.39 | 155.39 |
| 43 | Hungary | 70.443 | 155.30 | 155.3 |
| 44 | Libya | 70.429 | 155.27 | 155.27 |
| 45 | Luxembourg | 70.270 | 154.92 | 154.92 |
| 46 | Tajikistan | 70.234 | 154.84 | 154.84 |
| 47 | Portugal | 70.193 | 154.75 | 154.75 |
| 48 | Lithuania | 70.153 | 154.66 | 154.66 |
| 49 | Grenada | 70.139 | 154.63 | 154.63 |
| 50 | Panama | 69.939 | 154.19 | 154.19 |
| 51 | Ireland | 69.926 | 154.16 | 154.16 |
| 52 | Canada | 69.767 | 153.81 | 153.81 |
| 53 | Jordan | 69.649 | 153.55 | 153.55 |
| 54 | St Vincent & Grenadines | 69.590 | 153.42 | 153.42 |
| 55 | Belize | 69.377 | 152.95 | 152.95 |
| 56 | Poland | 69.241 | 152.65 | 152.65 |
| 57 | Macedonia | 69.209 | 152.58 | 152.58 |
| 58 | Italy | 69.205 | 152.57 | 152.57 |
| 59 | Jamaica | 69.064 | 152.26 | 152.26 |
| 60 | Sweden | 69.064 | 152.26 | 152.26 |
| 61 | Turkey | 69.046 | 152.22 | 152.22 |
| 62 | Cuba | 69.037 | 152.20 | 152.2 |
| 63 | Mexico | 69.023 | 152.17 | 152.17 |
| 64 | Mongolia | 68.910 | 151.92 | 151.92 |
| 65 | Uruguay | 68.873 | 151.84 | 151.84 |
| 66 | Belgium | 68.801 | 151.68 | 151.68 |
| 67 | Suriname | 68.778 | 151.63 | 151.63 |
| 68 | Latvia | 68.778 | 151.63 | 151.63 |
| 69 | Norway | 68.774 | 151.62 | 151.62 |
| 70 | Netherlands | 68.746 | 151.56 | 151.56 |
| 71 | Ukraine | 68.674 | 151.40 | 151.4 |
| 72 | Guatemala | 68.579 | 151.19 | 151.19 |
| 73 | Saint Lucia | 68.438 | 150.88 | 150.88 |
| 74 | Armenia | 68.424 | 150.85 | 150.85 |
| 75 | Nicaragua | 68.415 | 150.83 | 150.83 |
| 76 | Vanuatu | 68.229 | 150.42 | 150.42 |
| 77 | El Salvador | 68.220 | 150.40 | 150.4 |
| 78 | Lebanon | 68.170 | 150.29 | 150.29 |
| 79 | Ecuador | 68.166 | 150.28 | 150.28 |
| 80 | Fiji | 68.048 | 150.02 | 150.02 |
| 81 | Bolivia | 68.034 | 149.99 | 149.99 |
| 82 | Dominican Rep. | 67.993 | 149.90 | 149.9 |
| 83 | Denmark | 67.957 | 149.82 | 149.82 |
| 84 | Costa Rica | 67.853 | 149.59 | 149.59 |
| 85 | Tunisia | 67.726 | 149.31 | 149.31 |
| 86 | Iran | 67.608 | 149.05 | 149.05 |
| 87 | Turkmenistan | 67.563 | 148.95 | 148.95 |
| 88 | Paraguay | 67.445 | 148.69 | 148.69 |
| 89 | Peru | 67.440 | 148.68 | 148.68 |
| 90 | Syria | 67.422 | 148.64 | 148.64 |
| 91 | Guyana | 67.032 | 147.78 | 147.78 |
| 92 | France | 66.782 | 147.23 | 147.23 |
| 93 | Estonia | 66.732 | 147.12 | 147.12 |
| 94 | Equatorial Guinea | 66.451 | 146.50 | 146.5 |
| 95 | Romania | 66.401 | 146.39 | 146.39 |
| 96 | Colombia | 66.370 | 146.32 | 146.32 |
| 97 | Uzbekistan | 66.351 | 146.28 | 146.28 |
| 98 | Kazakhstan | 66.265 | 146.09 | 146.09 |
| 99 | Brazil | 66.093 | 145.71 | 145.71 |
| 100 | Mauritius | 66.052 | 145.62 | 145.62 |
| 101 | Iraq | 66.034 | 145.58 | 145.58 |
| 102 | Lesotho | 65.966 | 145.43 | 145.43 |
| 103 | Honduras | 65.834 | 145.14 | 145.14 |
| 104 | Oman | 65.803 | 145.07 | 145.07 |
| 105 | South Africa | 65.667 | 144.77 | 144.77 |
| 106 | Kyrgyzstan | 65.413 | 144.21 | 144.21 |
| 107 | Botswana | 65.045 | 143.40 | 143.4 |
| 108 | Cameroon | 64.832 | 142.93 | 142.93 |
| 109 | Morocco | 64.764 | 142.78 | 142.78 |
| 110 | South Korea | 64.392 | 141.96 | 141.96 |
| 111 | Mauritania | 64.179 | 141.49 | 141.49 |
| 112 | Algeria | 63.639 | 140.30 | 140.3 |
| 113 | Gabon | 62.845 | 138.55 | 138.55 |
| 114 | Ghana | 62.491 | 137.77 | 137.77 |
| 115 | Cape Verde | 62.296 | 137.34 | 137.34 |
| 116 | Papua New Guinea | 62.251 | 137.24 | 137.24 |
| 117 | Eswatini | 62.097 | 136.90 | 136.9 |
| 118 | Djibouti | 62.015 | 136.72 | 136.72 |
| 119 | Haiti | 61.698 | 136.02 | 136.02 |
| 120 | Comoros | 61.044 | 134.58 | 134.58 |
| 121 | Zimbabwe | 61.022 | 134.53 | 134.53 |
| 122 | Brunei | 60.945 | 134.36 | 134.36 |
| 123 | Sierra Leone | 60.854 | 134.16 | 134.16 |
| 124 | Nigeria | 60.745 | 133.92 | 133.92 |
| 125 | Malaysia | 60.682 | 133.78 | 133.78 |
| 126 | China | 60.555 | 133.50 | 133.5 |
| 127 | Angola | 60.387 | 133.13 | 133.13 |
| 128 | Senegal | 60.373 | 133.10 | 133.1 |
| 129 | Benin | 60.282 | 132.90 | 132.9 |
| 130 | Mali | 60.078 | 132.45 | 132.45 |
| 131 | Yemen | 59.802 | 131.84 | 131.84 |
| 132 | Philippines | 59.715 | 131.65 | 131.65 |
| 133 | Namibia | 59.584 | 131.36 | 131.36 |
| 134 | Sudan | 59.407 | 130.97 | 130.97 |
| 135 | Togo | 59.280 | 130.69 | 130.69 |
| 136 | Guinea | 59.112 | 130.32 | 130.32 |
| 137 | Japan | 59.017 | 130.11 | 130.11 |
| 138 | Pakistan | 58.976 | 130.02 | 130.02 |
| 139 | Singapore | 58.935 | 129.93 | 129.93 |
| 140 | Thailand | 58.786 | 129.60 | 129.6 |
| 141 | Côte d'Ivoire | 58.727 | 129.47 | 129.47 |
| 142 | Laos | 58.436 | 128.83 | 128.83 |
| 143 | Chad | 58.196 | 128.30 | 128.3 |
| 144 | Niger | 57.933 | 127.72 | 127.72 |
| 145 | Maldives | 57.647 | 127.09 | 127.09 |
| 146 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 57.561 | 126.90 | 126.9 |
| 147 | Burkina Faso | 57.456 | 126.67 | 126.67 |
| 148 | Congo | 57.384 | 126.51 | 126.51 |
| 149 | Tanzania | 57.293 | 126.31 | 126.31 |
| 150 | Gambia | 57.071 | 125.82 | 125.82 |
| 151 | Uganda | 57.007 | 125.68 | 125.68 |
| 152 | Afghanistan | 56.935 | 125.52 | 125.52 |
| 153 | Malawi | 56.681 | 124.96 | 124.96 |
| 154 | Rwanda | 56.635 | 124.86 | 124.86 |
| 155 | Myanmar | 56.354 | 124.24 | 124.24 |
| 156 | Kenya | 56.264 | 124.04 | 124.04 |
| 157 | Guinea-Bissau | 56.087 | 123.65 | 123.65 |
| 158 | Mozambique | 55.955 | 123.36 | 123.36 |
| 159 | Central African Rep. | 55.946 | 123.34 | 123.34 |
| 160 | Zambia | 55.910 | 123.26 | 123.26 |
| 161 | Cambodia | 55.742 | 122.89 | 122.89 |
| 162 | Liberia | 55.533 | 122.43 | 122.43 |
| 163 | Somalia | 55.375 | 122.08 | 122.08 |
| 164 | Madagascar | 55.157 | 121.60 | 121.6 |
| 165 | Burundi | 54.127 | 119.33 | 119.33 |
| 166 | Congo | 53.501 | 117.95 | 117.95 |
| 167 | Ethiopia | 53.057 | 116.97 | 116.97 |
| 168 | India | 52.943 | 116.72 | 116.72 |
| 169 | North Korea | 52.589 | 115.94 | 115.94 |
| 170 | Indonesia | 52.467 | 115.67 | 115.67 |
| 171 | Eritrea | 52.041 | 114.73 | 114.73 |
| 172 | Timor-Leste | 51.950 | 114.53 | 114.53 |
| 173 | Bhutan | 51.142 | 112.75 | 112.75 |
| 174 | Vietnam | 50.725 | 111.83 | 111.83 |
| 175 | Nepal | 50.476 | 111.28 | 111.28 |
| 176 | Sri Lanka | 50.421 | 111.16 | 111.16 |
| 177 | Bangladesh | 49.591 | 109.33 | 109.33 |
| — | world average | 61.997 | 136.68 | 136.68 |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)The body weight and height of respondents with a BMI of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 can be considered as the average normal body weight and height of the adult population in Russia, which amounted to 70.6 kg and 175.4 cm for men, and 60.2 kg and 164 cm for women, respectively.
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