What is the ideal body weight for a 50-year-old female, 5 feet tall, with normal body composition and no underlying medical conditions?

Ideal Body Weight for a 50-Year-Old Female, 5 Feet Tall

For a 50-year-old female who is 5 feet (60 inches or 152 cm) tall, the ideal body weight is 48.67 kg (approximately 107 pounds), calculated using the modified Devine formula. 1

Calculation Method

The modified Devine formula is the standard approach for calculating ideal body weight and is specifically referenced in current European Society of Cardiology guidelines for clinical use 1:

• For women: IBW = 48.67 kg + 1.65 kg/inch of height > 5 feet 1, 2
• Since this woman is exactly 5 feet tall: IBW = 48.67 kg + (1.65 kg × 0 inches) = 48.67 kg

This translates to approximately 107 pounds for a woman of this height 1.

Healthy Weight Range Using BMI

While the Devine formula provides a single target weight, a healthy weight range is more clinically appropriate 3:

• Normal BMI range: 18.5-24.9 kg/m² 3
• For height of 152 cm (5 feet):
  • Lower end (BMI 18.5): approximately 43 kg (95 lbs) 1
  • Upper end (BMI 24.9): approximately 58 kg (128 lbs) 1
  • Optimal range: 43-58 kg (95-128 pounds) 1, 3

The Devine formula result of 48.67 kg falls within this healthy BMI range and corresponds to a BMI of approximately 21 kg/m², which is associated with the lowest mortality risk 4, 5.

Age-Specific Considerations

For women in their 50s, the standard BMI classifications remain appropriate 3. While some research suggests optimal BMI may be slightly higher in older adults (≥65 years), a 50-year-old woman should still target the standard normal BMI range of 18.5-24.9 kg/m² 6. The evidence for age-adjusted weight recommendations applies primarily to individuals 65 years and older, not to those in their 50s 6.

Clinical Application

For medication dosing and nutritional calculations, the ideal body weight of 48.67 kg should be used rather than actual body weight if the patient is significantly overweight or obese 1. For patients with BMI 30-50, adjusted body weight formulas may be more appropriate: (actual body weight − ideal body weight) × 0.25 + ideal body weight 1.

Waist circumference should also be assessed as a complementary measure, with values ≥88 cm (35 inches) in women indicating increased cardiometabolic risk even if BMI is in the normal range 3.