BMI (Body Mass Index)

Definition

BMI or Body Mass Index is a simple calculation using a person’s height and weight to assess whether they have a healthy body weight for a given height.

Scientific / Technical Definition

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a value derived from the mass (weight) and height of an individual. It is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters. The resulting value is used as a screening tool to categorize individuals into various weight categories such as underweight, normal, overweight, and obese based on standard thresholds.

Benefits

• Provides a quick and easy screening tool for categorizing weight status.
• Helps identify potential weight-related health risks.
• Useful for large population assessments to track weight trends.

Examples

Additional Information

• effects: While BMI is a useful general indicator for population health, it does not directly measure body fat or muscle mass and may not accurately reflect the health status of individuals with high muscle mass or low muscle mass.

Related Terms

• Body Composition
• Waist-to-Hip Ratio
• Body Fat Percentage
• Lean Body Mass

References

• Body Mass Index: Considerations for Practitioners
• Understanding BMI