Comparison of Perceived Weight as Ideal Against Ideal Body Weight Formulas and Body Mass Index of 22 Kg/M2 in Young Adult Women.

Introduction: Formulas of ideal body weight (IBW) including the body mass index (BMI) of 22 kg/m2 are used under the assumption to provide a healthy weight. Objective: We compare the perceived ideal body weight (PIBW) with the calculated IBW by formulas and the BMI of 22. Methods: We recruited 705 women (20-25 y). Six common formulas and 2 published equations by our team were used. Results: Group regression analysis determined that including the frame size improves the agreement of formulas of Robinson et al, Hammond and Hamwi with the PIBW (p>0.05). Individually, the concordance analysis (higher % of differences <2 kg: PIBW - IBW by formula), determined that for a measured BMI <20, only the Faspyn 1 formula needs to be adjusted by frame size; while Robinson et al, Hammond, Tokunaga (BMI of 22), Faspyn 2 (BMI of 22) and Broca, are equivalent with the PIBW in different intervals of BMI. Conclusions: According to the BMI perceived as overweight (23.8 kg/m2) and perceived as ideal (21.1 kg/m2), caution is suggested when using the IBW formulas for BMI of 22 as a diagnosis. The IBW formulas and BMI of 22 does not necessarily represent a desirable or aesthetic weight.