| Body-mass Index (BMI) |
|
Body-mass index (BMI) is a measurement that has been found to be a good indicator of body fat. BMI is calculated in the following way:
Formula:
Weight (lbs) ÷ [Height (in.)]2 x 703
For example, if you weight 200 lbs, and you are 5'7" (67 in.) tall, the calculation would be:
200 ÷ [67]2 x 703 = 31.3 BMI.
BMI is categorized as follows:
It is important to note that in children and adolescents, BMI is calculated in the same way but is interpreted differently based on a pediatric BMI percentile graph. For a pediatric BMI calculator, visit the following link: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx.
While BMI is generally a good indicator of body fat, it may be falsely elevated for athletes and very muscular individuals. Conversely, it may be falsely low in elderly or others who have lost muscle mass.
Despite these limitations, elevated BMI has been found to be a good indicator of overweight and obese states, and these are associated with the following conditions:
Created: 8/28/2007
Last Modified: 8/4/2008
Formula:
Weight (lbs) ÷ [Height (in.)]2 x 703
For example, if you weight 200 lbs, and you are 5'7" (67 in.) tall, the calculation would be:
200 ÷ [67]2 x 703 = 31.3 BMI.
BMI is categorized as follows:
| BMI | Meaning |
|---|---|
| < 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5-24.9 | Normal |
| 25.0-29.9 | Overweight |
| > 30.0 | Obese |
It is important to note that in children and adolescents, BMI is calculated in the same way but is interpreted differently based on a pediatric BMI percentile graph. For a pediatric BMI calculator, visit the following link: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx.
While BMI is generally a good indicator of body fat, it may be falsely elevated for athletes and very muscular individuals. Conversely, it may be falsely low in elderly or others who have lost muscle mass.
Despite these limitations, elevated BMI has been found to be a good indicator of overweight and obese states, and these are associated with the following conditions:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Arthritis
- Sleep apnea
- Certain cancers
Citations
- "Aim for a Health Weight: Information for Patients and the Public." National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/risk.htm.
- "About BMI for Adults." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. June 2008. www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/adult_BMI/about_adult_BMI.htm.
- "About BMI for Children and Teens." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. June 2008. www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/childrens_BMI/about_childrens_BMI.htm.
- Mishra GD, Carrigan G, Brown WJ, et al. "Short-term weight change and the incidence of diabetes in midlife." Diabetes Care 2007; 30:1418-1424.
Created: 8/28/2007
Last Modified: 8/4/2008