Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI

Preferred method of estimating body fat

-comparison of weight vs. height

weight (kg)/height (m) squared

or

weight (lb)/height (in) squared x703

BMI example

20 year old female, 127 pounds, 5'1"

-5x12+1 inches...61 inches tall

127/61x703 = 24 kg/m squared

BMI classification: underweight

less than 18.5 kg/m squared

BMI classification: healthy weight

18.5-24.9 kg/m squared

BMI classification: overweight

25-29.9 kg/m squared

BMI classification: obesity

Class 1: 30-34.9 kg/m2

Class 2: 35-39.9 kg/m2

Class 3: more than 40 kg/m2

-morbid obesity

BMI..good?

not for use with...children, elderly, pregnant, someone who is very muscular