General Medicine Pharmacology Standard pharmacological practice
Adjusted Body Weight
Calculates adjusted body weight for obese patients: IBW + 0.4×(Actual - IBW).
Score interpretation
ABW (kg) ≥ 0
Adjusted body weight. If actual weight ≤ IBW, actual weight is returned.
→ Use ABW for: Cockcroft-Gault in obesity, aminoglycoside dosing in obesity. Note: for some drugs (e.g. vancomycin), total body weight or IBW may be preferred — check individual SPC.
Interpretation bands for the ABW. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
- Winter MA et al. A meta-analysis of the pharmacokinetics of aminoglycosides in patients with obesity. J Clin Pharmacol. 2004.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Drugs
Pathways
- Sepsis Screening and Sepsis Six · UK Sepsis Trust; NICE NG51; Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2021
- Unintentional Weight Loss Workup · NICE NG12; BSG
- Chronic Fatigue Workup · NICE NG206; BMJ Best Practice
- Lymphadenopathy Workup · NICE NG12; BMJ Best Practice
- Pre-op Medical Clearance · NICE NG45; ESC 2022
- Secondary Hypertension Workup · NICE NG136; ESH 2023
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.