The body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat. It is defined as the weight of a subject in kilograms (kg) divided by the square of their height in meters (m) 1. The resultant quantity is measured in kg/m2.
Terminology
The World Health Organization (WHO) definitions for adults according to BMI 4:
The use of the body mass index has clear limitations as a measure of body fat. It does not take into account age, gender, skeletal structure, lean body (muscle) mass or distribution of body fat 3. In view of this, the body mass index may give an erroneous impression of an individual's level of body fat.
1, William Alexander Newman Dorland. Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. (2018) ISBN: 9781416023647
2. Lee DH, Giovannucci EL. Body composition and mortality in the general population: A review of epidemiologic studies. (2018) Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.). 243 (17-18): 1275-1285. doi:10.1177/1535370218818161 - Pubmed
3. Rothman KJ. BMI-related errors in the measurement of obesity. (2008) International journal of obesity (2005). 32 Suppl 3: S56-9. doi:10.1038/ijo.2008.87 - Pubmed
4. Obesity: Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic. Report of a WHO Consultation. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2000;894:i-xii, 1. - Pubmed
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