How to Calculate Excess Weight

Being overweight can cause problems ranging from low self-esteem to diabetes and heart disease. A study by the National Cancer Institute shows that being overweight can reduce your lifespan. Before starting a weight-loss program, know how much weight you need to lose. Excess weight is the difference between your actual weight and your ideal body weight. Ideal body weight is a term used to define a healthy weight for a particular body size and gender. Knowing your ideal body weight will keep you motivated to continue with a diet and exercise program, and will set a benchmark for successfully losing weight in a healthy manner.

Instructions

• 1

  If you are a woman, calculate your ideal body weight with the following formula, called the Hamwi Formula: 100 + (your height in inches - 60) x 5. For example, if you are 5 ft. 6 inches tall, your ideal body weight formula would look as follows: 100 + (66-60) x 5. Your ideal body weight would be 130 pounds.

• 2

  If you are a man, calculate your ideal body weight with the following formula, called the Hamwi Formula: 106 + (your height in inches - 60) x 6. For example, if you are 5 ft. 10 inches tall, your ideal body weight formula would look as follows: 106 + (70-60) x 6. Your ideal body weight would be 166 pounds.

• 3

  Calculate excess weight by subtracting your ideal body weight, calculated above, from your current weight. Using the above examples, if the female currently weighs 150 pounds, her excess weight is 20 pounds. If the male weighs 196 pounds his excess weight is 30 pounds.