Endocrinology General Medicine Anaesthesia & ICU Standard — Devine 1974 / widely applied
Ideal & Adjusted Body Weight
Calculates Ideal Body Weight (Devine formula) and Adjusted Body Weight for use in drug dosing, ventilator settings, and nutrition.
Score interpretation
Actual Weight < 120 % of IBW 0–119.99
Actual weight below 120 % of ideal body weight.
→ Use the weight the drug's guidance specifies (usually actual or ideal body weight).
Actual Weight ≥ 120 % of IBW — Consider Adjusted Body Weight ≥ 120
Adjusted body weight = IBW + 0.4 × (actual − IBW) for drugs dosed on adjusted weight (e.g. aminoglycosides).
→ Check the specific drug's dosing-weight guidance.
Interpretation bands for the IBW / ABW. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
- Devine BJ. Gentamicin therapy. Drug Intelligence and Clinical Pharmacy. 1974.
- Erstad BL. Dosing of medications in morbidly obese patients in the intensive care unit setting. Intensive Care Med. 2004.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Drugs
Pathways
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) · JBDS 2013 / Joint British Diabetes Societies; NICE NG17
- Adult Hypoglycaemia (Treated Diabetes) · JBDS-IP (2023): Hospital Management of Hypoglycaemia
- Adrenal Crisis · Society for Endocrinology Emergency Guidance (2024)
- Type 2 Diabetes Management · NICE NG28 2022
- Hyperthyroidism Management · BTA / ETA 2018
- Adrenal Insufficiency · Society of Endocrinology / ESE 2016
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.