Body Mass Index (BMI)
Definition:
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonlyused to classify underweight, overweight and obesity in adults.
It is defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the heightin metres (kg/m2).
| BMI= | weight(kg) ―――――――――――――――― height (m) x height (m) |
For example, an adult who weighs 70kg and whose height is 1.75m will have aBMI of 22.9.
| BMI= | 70(kg) ―――――――――――――――― 1.75 (m) x 1.75 (m) | =22.9 |
BMI values are age-independent and the same for both sexes.
Source: WHOBMIclassification
More:
The International Classification of adult underweight, overweight and obesityaccording to BMI:
| BMI | Weight Status |
|---|---|
| less than 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5–24.9 | Normal |
| more than 25.0 | Overweight |
Overweight can be further subdivided in:
| BMI | Weight Status |
|---|---|
| 25.0–29.9 | Pre-obsese |
| 30.0-34.9 | Obese classI |
| 35.0-39.9 | Obese classII |
| 40.00 or more | Obese classIII |
Compared to a normal weight status, the risk of having additional diseases(comorbidity) becomes greater with increasing overweight.
Source: GreenFacts, based on WHOBMIclassification
To calculate your own BMI automatically (in English or metric units) see:
BMI Calculator
Related words:
Translation(s):
Deutsch: Body Mass Index (BMI)
Español: Índice de masa corporal (IMC)
Français: Indice de masse corporelle (IMC)
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