What is BMI?
The body mass index is one
method that doctors use to determine if an individual is at a healthy weight. The index is
thought to be a more accurate indicator of body fat content than the standard
height-weight tables that have been in use for over 30 years.
In addition to knowing our
weight and height, it is important to understand our Body Mass Index which is basically
the relationship between a person's height and weight. Body Mass Index (BMI) is one
of the most accurate ways to determine when extra pounds translate into health risks and
is becoming the measurement of choice used by health care professionals and investigators.
Body Mass Index does not directly measure percent of body fat, although higher BMI's are
usually associated with an increase in body fat, and thus excess weight.
What is the body mass index
(BMI)?
The body mass index is a formula
to assess a person's body weight relative to height. It's a useful, indirect measure of
body composition, because it correlates highly with body fat in most people. The BMI
happens to be the most commonly used measurement in epidemiological studies and for
middle-aged men and women, it correlates over 90% with fat mass densitometry. The BMI is
also called the Quetelet index and while it does not distinguish fat mass from lean or
muscle mass, it is a very useful approximation to what one should weigh depending on
height. To determine your Body Mass Index, identify your current weight and height and
check it on the
Body Mass
Index Chart.
