Body mass
Body Mass
Body mass (pronunciation: /ˈbɒdi mæs/) is a term used in the medical field to refer to the total amount of mass in an individual's body. It is typically measured in kilograms or pounds and is used as an indicator of overall health.
Etymology
The term "body mass" is derived from the Latin words "corpus" meaning body and "massa" meaning mass or bulk. It has been used in the English language since the late 19th century.
Definition
Body mass is the total amount of mass in an individual's body, including the weight of the bones, muscles, organs, and body fluids. It does not include the weight of any external items such as clothing or accessories. Body mass is often used as a measure of health, as it can indicate whether an individual is underweight, overweight, or at a healthy weight for their height.
Related Terms
- Body Mass Index: A calculation that uses a person's height and weight to determine if they are at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese.
- Lean Body Mass: The weight of everything in the body except for fat, including muscles, bones, organs, and body fluids.
- Fat Mass: The total weight of all the fat in the body.
- Muscle Mass: The weight of the muscles in the body.
- Bone Mass: The weight of the bones in the body.
Measurement
Body mass is typically measured using a scale. It can be measured in either kilograms or pounds, depending on the country and the individual's preference. It is important to measure body mass regularly, as changes in body mass can indicate changes in health.
Health Implications
Body mass can have significant implications for an individual's health. A body mass that is too low can indicate malnutrition or other health problems, while a body mass that is too high can indicate obesity and increase the risk of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Body mass
- Wikipedia's article - Body mass
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski