weight
(wāt 
)
- The gravitational force exerted on an object, usually by the earth. The unit of weight is the newton (1 newton equals 0.225 lb). The difference between weight and mass is that the weight of an object varies with the force of gravity, but the mass remains the same. For example, an object weighs less on the moon than on earth because the force of gravity is less on the moon; but the mass of the object is the same in both places.
SEE: mass (3).
- Emphasis. Relative contribution.
Normal weight depends on the frame of the individual.
Many diseases cause alterations of body weight (BW). BW decreases in Addison's disease, AIDS, cancer, chronic diarrhea, chronic infections, untreated type I diabetes mellitus, anorexia, prolonged lactation, marasmus, obstruction of the pylorus or thoracic duct, starvation, tuberculosis, and peptic ulcer.
SEE: apothecaries' weights and measures.
ABBR: at. wt.
The weight of an atom of an element compared with that of 112the weight of carbon-12. The term is widely used, but the correct term is atomic mass.SEE: avoirdupois measure.
birth w.The weight of a newborn. The normal weight of a newborn is between 5.5 lb (2.5 kg) and 10 lb (4.5 kg) and is directly related to the gestational age at which the infant was born. Birth weight is an important index of maturation and chance for survival. Weight of less than 2.5 kg is known as low birth weight (LBW) and is associated with an increased chance of death in the perinatal period. Medical advances have increased the chance of survival of newborns of 2.0 kg or more.
SEE: large for gestational age; small for gestational age.
SEE: low birth weight.
dosing w.The body weight used for calculating the appropriate dosage of a medication for those whose weight exceeds the usual average range. Weight-based dosing is used to correct for different drug distributions and pharmacodynamics in overweight or obese patients.
Obese patients metabolize fat-soluble medications differently from lean patients, and the differences may result in clinically important undermedication or overmedication. One formula used to calculate a safe weight-based dosage for obese patients depends on the total body weight (TBW) and ideal body weight (IBW) as follows: dosing weight = (0.3)(TBW – IBW) + IBW.drained w.The weight of food solids that remain after the liquids in which they have been prepared are removed.
dry w.The body weight of a person after ideal hemodialysis, i.e., of a patient in renal failure who has neither edema nor high blood pressure.
equivalent w.An obsolete term for the weight of a chemical element that is equivalent to and will replace a hydrogen atom (1.008 g) in a chemical reaction.
ABBR: ELBW
A birth weight of less than 1000 g (2.2 lb).free w.A heavy object, typically held in the hand s, and used for exercise or rehabilitation. The object is free because its motion is not constrained by the limits of a machine, and the body's joints are not fixed in space during its use. Free weights place strain both on the muscles used to move them and the stabilizing muscles in other parts of the body.
gram molecular w.Gram molecular mass.
ABBR: IBW
The weight in pounds or kilograms a person should weigh, based on height and frame, to achieve and maintain optimal health. Several tables, such as the Metropolitan Life Height and Weight Table, show ideal body weights for men and women of varying heights. These references may be used to help set goals for patients who are underweight or overweight.SEE: weight for table.
ABBR: LBW
Abnormally low weight of a newborn, usually less than 2500 g. Its causes include: preterm delivery of less than 37 weeks, multiple gestation, an abnormal uterus or cervix, congenital (genetic) anomalies in the fetus, maternal smoking or illicit drug use, placental malformation or malfunction, inadequate maternal nutrition, or a variety of other socioeconomic problems. Early, regular prenatal care and control of chronic and acute health problems help reduce risk. A series of ultrasounds can monitor fetal development. Early delivery is necessary if the fetus does not show signs of improvement. Incomplete maturation of the newborn's lungs is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in LBW infants. Surfactants and a variety of neonatal technological supports decrease burden of this disease. Nursing/perinatal considerations include maintaining normal body temperature; diagnosis and treatment of hypoglycemia; maintenance of fluid, electrolyte, and nutritional status; and careful monitoring of newborn intake and output. Respiratory distress may be present, requiring oxygen and ventilation. Many preterm infants also have hyperbilirubinemia and are treated with phototherapy.ABBR: mol. wt.; MW
The weight of a molecule attained by totaling the atomic weight (mass) of its constituent atoms.SEE: atomic weight .
set point w.The concept that body weight is controlled by the central nervous system and set at a certain value. The value is more or less stable until something occurs to alter it, e.g., when a disturbance of hypothalamic function interferes with the satiety and feeding centers.
troy w.A system of weighing gold, silver, precious metals, and jewels in which 5760 gr equals 1 lb (1 gr equals 0.0648 g).
ABBR: UBW
Body weight value used to compare a person's current weight with his or her own baseline weight. The UBW may be a more realistic goal than the ideal body weight for some individuals.SEE: ideal body weight .
ABBR: VLBW
A body weight at delivery of less than 1500 g (but more than 500 g). Newborns that are this small make up about 1% of all births in the U.S. but account for about 60% of deaths in the first month of life.ABBR: w/v
The amount by weight (mass) of a solid substance dissolved in a measured quantity of liquid. Percent w/v expresses the number of grams of an ingredient in 100 mL of solution.ABBR: w/w
The amount by weight of a solid substance dissolved in a known amount (by weight) of liquid. Percent w/w expresses the number of grams of one ingredient in 100 g of solution.