Body Mass Index

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value of a person's weight in relation to their height, used as a simple and widely used method for estimating body fatness and weight status. It is calculated by dividing an individual's weight (in kilograms) by their height squared (in meters).

BMI

Formula

The formula for calculating BMI is:

BMI = weight (kg) / height^2 (m^2)

Interpretation of BMI Results

BMI is used to classify individuals into categories of weight status, including underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. The following are the commonly used categories and their corresponding BMI ranges:

Underweight: BMI < 18.5
Normal weight: 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25
Overweight: 25 ≤ BMI < 30
Obesity: BMI ≥ 30

Limitations

It is important to note that while BMI is a useful tool for estimating body fatness and weight status, it has some limitations and should not be used as a diagnostic tool. For example, individuals with a high amount of muscle mass may have a high BMI but actually have a low amount of body fat. Similarly, older individuals may have a lower BMI but still have a high amount of body fat. In these cases, it may be necessary to use other methods, such as skinfold thickness measurements or DXA scans, to more accurately assess body fatness.

Uses of BMI

BMI is widely used for population-level surveillance of overweight and obesity, as well as for screening individuals for weight-related health risks. In addition, BMI is used to monitor the weight status of individuals over time, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of weight loss interventions.

Health Risks

Carrying excess weight, especially in the form of abdominal fat, is associated with an increased risk of a number of serious health problems, including:

Type 2 diabetes
Cardiovascular disease
Hypertension
Sleep apnea
Certain cancers (e.g., breast, colon, endometrial, and gallbladder)
Osteoarthritis
Fatty liver disease
Kidney disease

Also see

Waist circumference

References

World Health Organization (2020). Body mass index - BMI. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/item/body-mass-index-bmi
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021). Overweight and obesity. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html

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