Body mass index: Difference between revisions
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Body mass index (BMI) is used as an indicator of general health. It is calculated taking into account a person's height and weight. | Body mass index (BMI) is used as an indicator of general health. It is calculated taking into account a person's height and weight. | ||
The calculation is: | The calculation is: BMI = Weight (kg) / Height<sup>2</sup> (m)<sup></sup><sup></sup> | ||
This calculation categorises people into distinct groups: | This calculation categorises people into distinct groups: | ||
*If a person's BMI is less than 18.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup> then that person is considered 'underweight'. | *If a person's BMI is less than 18.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup> then that person is considered 'underweight'. | ||
*If a person's BMI is between 18.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup> and 24.9 kg/m<sup>2</sup> then that person is considered 'healthy'. | *If a person's BMI is between 18.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup> and 24.9 kg/m<sup>2</sup> then that person is considered 'healthy'. | ||
*If a person's BMI is equal to or above 25 kg/m<sup>2</sup> then that person is considered 'overweight'. | *If a person's BMI is equal to or above 25 kg/m<sup>2</sup> then that person is considered 'overweight'. | ||
*If a person's BMI is equal to or above 35 kg/m<sup>2</sup> then that person is considered '[[Obese|obese]]'. | *If a person's BMI is equal to or above 35 kg/m<sup>2</sup> then that person is considered '[[Obese|obese]]'. | ||
*If a person's BMI is equal to or above 40 kg/m<sup>2</sup> then that person is considered 'morbidly obese'. | *If a person's BMI is equal to or above 40 kg/m<sup>2</sup> then that person is considered 'morbidly obese'. | ||
Height-weight tables are used to display this information in a clear manner. | Height-weight tables are used to display this information in a clear manner. | ||
However, calculating a person's BMI is not always the best method of calculating how healthy that person may be. For example, athletes may have higher body mass indices but have a very low body fat. Men are also likely to have a higher body mass index than women of the same height. It is only by considering body composition as a whole that we can get an ideal picture of how healthy or not a person may be. This includes looking at height, weight, gender, age, [[Body fat percentage|body fat percentage]], frame size and energy expenditure | However, calculating a person's BMI is not always the best method of calculating how healthy that person may be. For example, athletes may have higher body mass indices but have a very low body fat. Men are also likely to have a higher body mass index than women of the same height. It is only by considering body composition as a whole that we can get an ideal picture of how healthy or not a person may be. This includes looking at height, weight, gender, age, [[Body fat percentage|body fat percentage]], frame size and energy expenditure <ref>Gropper, S.S., Smith, J., and Groff, J., 2005. 'Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism,' Wadsworth/Thomson. (pp. 519-530).</ref>. | ||
=== References === | === References === | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Latest revision as of 10:01, 18 November 2017
Body mass index (BMI) is used as an indicator of general health. It is calculated taking into account a person's height and weight.
The calculation is: BMI = Weight (kg) / Height2 (m)
This calculation categorises people into distinct groups:
- If a person's BMI is less than 18.5 kg/m2 then that person is considered 'underweight'.
- If a person's BMI is between 18.5 kg/m2 and 24.9 kg/m2 then that person is considered 'healthy'.
- If a person's BMI is equal to or above 25 kg/m2 then that person is considered 'overweight'.
- If a person's BMI is equal to or above 35 kg/m2 then that person is considered 'obese'.
- If a person's BMI is equal to or above 40 kg/m2 then that person is considered 'morbidly obese'.
Height-weight tables are used to display this information in a clear manner.
However, calculating a person's BMI is not always the best method of calculating how healthy that person may be. For example, athletes may have higher body mass indices but have a very low body fat. Men are also likely to have a higher body mass index than women of the same height. It is only by considering body composition as a whole that we can get an ideal picture of how healthy or not a person may be. This includes looking at height, weight, gender, age, body fat percentage, frame size and energy expenditure [1].
References
- ↑ Gropper, S.S., Smith, J., and Groff, J., 2005. 'Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism,' Wadsworth/Thomson. (pp. 519-530).