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Adjusted Weight Equation:
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Adjusted weight is used for obese patients to account for the fact that adipose tissue contributes less to metabolic processes than lean body mass. It provides a more accurate weight measurement for medication dosing and nutritional calculations in obese individuals.
The calculator uses the adjusted weight equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation accounts for the reduced metabolic contribution of adipose tissue by only counting 40% of the weight above ideal body weight.
Details: Adjusted weight is crucial for accurate medication dosing in obese patients, particularly for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows. It's also used for nutritional calculations and ventilator settings.
Tips: Enter ideal body weight and actual weight in kilograms. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator is specifically designed for obese patients (typically BMI ≥30).
Q1: When should I use adjusted weight vs actual weight?
A: Use adjusted weight for medication dosing in obese patients, especially for drugs that distribute primarily in lean body mass. Use actual weight for drugs that distribute in both lean and fat mass.
Q2: How is ideal body weight calculated?
A: IBW can be calculated using various formulas (e.g., Devine formula). For men: 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet. For women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet.
Q3: What's the BMI cutoff for using adjusted weight?
A: Typically used for patients with BMI ≥30, though some clinicians use it for overweight patients (BMI 25-29.9) in certain situations.
Q4: Are there alternatives to adjusted weight?
A: Other approaches include using lean body weight or allometric scaling, depending on the specific medication and clinical scenario.
Q5: Should adjusted weight be used for nutritional calculations?
A: Yes, adjusted weight is often used for calculating calorie and protein requirements in obese patients to avoid overfeeding.