Body Mass Index - What you should Know about BMI

BMI is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. BMI does not measure body fat directly, however research has actually revealed that BMI is reasonably correlated with more direct measures of body fat gotten from skinfold thickness measurements, bioelectrical impedance, densitometry (underwater weighing), double energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and other techniques. Furthermore, BMI seems as highly associated with various metabolic and illness outcome as are these more direct procedures of body fatness. In general, BMI is an easy-to-perform and affordable method of screening for weight category, for instance underweight, typical or healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.

How is BMI utilized?

A high BMI can be an indication of high body fatness. BMI can be used as a screening tool however is not diagnostic of the body fatness or health of a person.

To figure out if a high BMI is a health risk, a doctor would need to carry out more evaluations. These assessments might consist of skinfold density measurements, evaluations of diet, physical activity, family history, and other proper health screenings.

What are the BMI trends for adults in the United States?

The frequency of adult BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (obese status) has actually greatly increased because the 1970s. Recently, nevertheless, this pattern has actually leveled off, except for older women. Obesity has actually continued to increase in adult ladies who are age 60 years and older.

Why is BMI utilized to measure overweight and obesity?

BMI can be used for population assessment of overweight and obesity. Due to the fact that computation requires only height and weight, it is easy and inexpensive to utilize for clinicians and for the general public. BMI can be utilized as a screening tool for body fatness but is not diagnostic.

What are a few of the other methods to evaluate excess body fatness besides BMI?

Other methods to measure body fatness include skinfold density measurements (with calipers), underwater weighing, bioelectrical impedance, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and isotope dilution 1,2,3. However, these methods are not constantly readily offered, and they are either expensive or need to be performed by highly trained personnel. In addition, much of these methods can be challenging to standardize across makers or observers, making complex contrasts throughout studies and time periods.

How is BMI interpreted for grownups?

For grownups 20 years old and older, BMI is analyzed utilizing basic weight status classifications. These classifications are the same for men and women of all body types and ages.