body mass index

body mass index

 an estimate of total body fat. The BMI is defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres: weight height2 = BMI. This number, which is central to determining whether an individual is clinically defined as obese (obesity), parallels fatness but is not a direct measure of body fat. BMI is less sensitive than using a skinfold caliper or other method to measure body fat indirectly.

      Interpretation of BMI numbers is based on weight status groupings, such as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obese, that are adjusted for age and sex. For all adults over age 20, BMI numbers correlate to the same weight status designations. For example, a BMI for adult women and men between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy. A BMI lower than 18.5 is considered underweight, whereas a BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 equates with overweight and 30.0 and above with obesity. Definitions of overweight and obesity are more difficult to quantify for children, whose BMI changes with age.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • body mass index — n a measure of body fat that is the ratio of the weight of the body in kilograms to the square of its height in meters <a body mass index in adults of 25 to 29.9 is considered an indication of overweight, and 30 or more an indication of… …   Medical dictionary

  • Body Mass Index —   [ bɔdi mæs , englisch ], Abkürzung BMI, Maß für das Verhältnis von Körpergewicht zu Körpergröße beim Menschen. Der BMI wird berechnet, indem man das Körpergewicht (in kg) durch das Quadrat der Körpergröße (in Metern) dividiert. Bei Erwachsenen… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Body mass index — The body mass index (BMI), or Quetelet index, is a statistical measurement which compares a person s weight and height. Though it does not actually measure the percentage of body fat, it is a useful tool to estimate a healthy body weight based on …   Wikipedia

  • Body-Mass-Index — Der Body Mass Index (BMI [ˈbɒdi mæs ˈɪndɛks]) – auch Körpermasseindex (KMI), Körpermassenzahl (KMZ) oder Quetelet Kaup Index – ist eine Maßzahl für die Bewertung des Körpergewichts eines Menschen in Relation zu seiner Körpergröße. Sie wurde 1870… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Body Mass Index — Der Body Mass Index (BMI [ˈbɔdi mæs ˈindeks]) –  auch Körpermasseindex (KMI), Kaup Index oder Körpermassenzahl (KMZ) – ist eine Maßzahl für die Bewertung des Körpergewichts eines Menschen. Sie wurde von Adolphe Quételet entwickelt. Da Übergewicht …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • body mass index — noun a measure of someone s weight in relation to height; to calculate one s BMI, multiply one s weight in pounds and divide that by the square of one s height in inches; overweight is a BMI greater than 25; obese is a BMI greater than 30 • Syn:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Body-Mass-Index — BMI; Körpermassenzahl; Kaup Index; Körpermasseindex * * * Bo|dy Mass In|dex 〈[bɔ̣dımæs ] m. 1 od. m.; , di|zes od. di|ces [ tse:s]; Abk.: BMI〉 Körpermasseindex, der aus Körpergewicht in …   Universal-Lexikon

  • body mass index — N SING A person s body mass index is a measurement that represents the relationship between their weight and their height. [MEDICAL] ...those with a body mass index of 30 and over …   English dictionary

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  • body mass index — noun (plural body mass indices) an approximate measure of whether someone is over or underweight, calculated by dividing their weight in kilograms by the square of their height in metres …   English new terms dictionary

  • body mass index — noun a measure of body mass that is calculated as weight divided by height squared; used to define nutritional status in relation to health risk. Abbrev.: BMI …  

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