Body Mass Index

Definition

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple way to assess whether a person has a healthy body weight for their height.

Scientific / Technical Definition

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height. Specifically, it is defined as the individual's body mass divided by the square of their height and is universally expressed in units of kg/m². It is commonly used to classify underweight, overweight, and obesity in adults.

Benefits

• Helps to quickly assess if an individual is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese based on height and weight.
• Serves as a useful screening tool, although not definitive of health status.
• Helps in identifying individuals at risk of developing health problems related to body weight.

Examples

Additional Information

• Known issues: BMI does not take into account muscle mass, bone density, overall body composition, and racial and sex differences. Therefore, it may misclassify muscular individuals as overweight or obese.

Related Terms

• Basal Metabolic Rate
• Caloric Intake
• Obesity
• Health Risk Assessment

References

• World Health Organization: Body Mass Index - BMI
• CDC: About Adult BMI