Body mass index
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body Mass Index (BMI) /ˈbɒdi mæs ˈɪndɛks/ is a value derived from the mass (weight) and height of a person. The BMI is defined as the body mass divided by the square of the body height, and is universally expressed in units of kg/m², resulting from mass in kilograms and height in metres.
Etymology
The term "Body Mass Index" was first coined by the Belgian scientist Adolphe Quetelet in the 19th century during his development of "social physics". The term "Body Mass Index" is often used in the field of health and medicine to assess whether a person has a healthy body weight for a certain height.
Calculation
The BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the height in meters squared. The resulting number is then used to classify the individual into a category, such as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.
Categories
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines the following categories based on BMI values:
- Underweight: a BMI less than 18.5
- Normal weight: a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9
- Overweight: a BMI of 25 to 29.9
- Obesity: a BMI of 30 or more
Limitations
While the BMI is a useful tool for identifying whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese, it does not directly measure body fat. Therefore, it may not accurately reflect a person's health status. For example, athletes may have a high BMI due to increased muscularity rather than increased body fat.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Body mass index
- Wikipedia's article - Body mass index
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