Bmi

Definition

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple numerical measure that helps assess whether a person has a healthy body weight for a given height.

Scientific / Technical Definition

Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters (kg/m²). It is used as a screening tool to categorize individuals into different weight status categories such as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity.

Benefits

• BMI provides a quick and easy way to assess if an individual is in a healthy weight range.
• It helps identify potential health risks associated with being underweight, overweight, or obese.
• Can be used to track changes in weight over time.

Examples

• An adult with a BMI of 22 would be considered to have a normal weight.
• A calculation example: A person weighing 70kg and 1.75m tall has a BMI of 22.86 (70/(1.75*1.75)).

Additional Information

• importance: This index is important as it helps to flag potential nutritional risk and guide intervention.

Related Terms

• Body fat percentage
• Waist-to-hip ratio
• Obesity

References

• CDC - About Adult BMI
• WHO - BMI Classification