Body mass index (BMI) is a simple formula used to estimate a person's appropriate weight relative to his height. It is used widely throughout the world as a diagnostic tool for obesity and other weight-related disorders.
Terminology
In clinical practice, the term body mass index is often abbreviated to BMI. It is also sometimes called the Quetelet index, after Adolphe Quetelet, the formula's inventor.
Metric Formula
The classic formula for calculating body mass index is the person's weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of the person's height (in meters).
Imperial Units
In the United States, where imperial units of measurement are used, the BMI formula is calculated as weight (in pounds) times 703, all divided by the square of the person's height in inches.
Normal BMI
For an adult of either sex, a normal body mass index is considered to be between 18.5 and 24.9. A number higher or lower than this guideline could indicate that the person is overweight or underweight.
Limitations
The body mass index tool can sometimes yield inaccurate estimates of a person's general health, since it could greatly overestimate fat in an athlete or bodybuilder. Ideal weight ranges may also vary by ethnicity.
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