Body Mass Index (BMI)

Interpretation

• Body mass index (BMI)
  • Measure of body fat in adults, based on height and weight
  • The higher the BMI, the higher the risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, and certain cancers^[1]
  • For children and teenagers, please refer to age-specific charts at the US Centers for Disease Control
• BMI Interpretation:

• BMI Limitations
  • May overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
  • May underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle.

Formula

Adult BMI = (Weight × w) / (Height × h)²

References

1. Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults--The Evidence Report. National Institutes of Health. Obes Res 6 Suppl 2:51S, 1998  [PMID:9813653]
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data. Hyattsville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011-12: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/nhanes_questionnaires.htm