Body mass index: Difference between revisions
Created page with "{{Short description|Relative weight based on mass and height}} {{Infobox diagnostic | name = Body mass index (BMI) | synonyms = Quetelet index | image = BMI chart.png | alt = | caption = Chart showing body mass index (BMI) for a range of heights and weights in both metric and imperial. Colours indicate BMI categories defined by the World Health Organization; ''underweight'', ''normal weight'', ''overweight'', ''moderately obese'', ''severely obese'' a..." |
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'''Body mass index''' ('''BMI''') is a value derived from the [[mass]] ([[Mass versus weight|weight]]) and [[height]] of a person. The BMI is defined as the [[human body weight|body mass]] divided by the [[square (algebra)|square]] of the [[human height|body height]], and is expressed in [[Units of measurement|units]] of kg/m<sup>2</sup>, resulting from mass in [[kilogram]]s (kg) and height in [[metre]]s (m). | '''Body mass index''' ('''BMI''') is a value derived from the [[mass]] ([[Mass versus weight|weight]]) and [[height]] of a person. The BMI is defined as the [[human body weight|body mass]] divided by the [[square (algebra)|square]] of the [[human height|body height]], and is expressed in [[Units of measurement|units]] of kg/m<sup>2</sup>, resulting from mass in [[kilogram]]s (kg) and height in [[metre]]s (m). | ||
The BMI may be determined first by measuring its components by means of a [[weighing scale]] and a [[stadiometer]]. The multiplication and division may be carried out directly, by hand or using a calculator, or indirectly using a [[lookup table]] (or chart). | The BMI may be determined first by measuring its components by means of a [[weighing scale]] and a [[stadiometer]]. The multiplication and division may be carried out directly, by hand or using a calculator, or indirectly using a [[lookup table]] (or chart). The table displays BMI as a function of mass and height and may show other units of measurement (converted to [[Metric system|metric units]] for the calculation). The table may also show contour lines or colours for different BMI categories. | ||
The BMI is a convenient [[rule of thumb]] used to broadly categorize a person as based on tissue mass ([[muscle]], [[fat]], and [[bone]]) and height. Major adult BMI classifications are ''[[underweight]]'' (under 18.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup>), ''[[normal weight]]'' (18.5 to 24.9), ''[[overweight]]'' (25 to 29.9), and ''[[obese]]'' (30 or more). When used to predict an individual's health, rather than as a statistical measurement for groups, the BMI has [[#Limitations|limitations]] that can make it less useful than some of the [[#Alternatives|alternatives]], especially when applied to individuals with [[abdominal obesity]], [[short stature]], or [[Bodybuilding|high muscle mass]]. | The BMI is a convenient [[rule of thumb]] used to broadly categorize a person as based on tissue mass ([[muscle]], [[fat]], and [[bone]]) and height. Major adult BMI classifications are ''[[underweight]]'' (under 18.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup>), ''[[normal weight]]'' (18.5 to 24.9), ''[[overweight]]'' (25 to 29.9), and ''[[obese]]'' (30 or more). When used to predict an individual's health, rather than as a statistical measurement for groups, the BMI has [[#Limitations|limitations]] that can make it less useful than some of the [[#Alternatives|alternatives]], especially when applied to individuals with [[abdominal obesity]], [[short stature]], or [[Bodybuilding|high muscle mass]]. | ||