Understanding Body Mass Index (BMI)

What is Body Mass Index (BMI) and how is it calculated?

a.) The % of an individual's body weight as compared to a reference population standard

b.) A ratio of an individual's fat tissue to lean tissue mass, squared

c.) A ratio of an individual's body weight to height, squared

d.) An individual's lean tissue mass, squared

Answer:

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body weight relative to height. It is calculated by dividing a person's weight by the square of their height.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure that estimates the fat content of the body. It is calculated by dividing a person's weight (in kilograms) by the square of their height (in meters). The formula for BMI is: weight (kg) / [height (m)]².

For example, if a person weighs 70 kilograms and their height is 1.75 meters, their BMI would be calculated as 70 / (1.75)² = 22.86.

BMI is commonly used to assess weight categories, such as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. A BMI ranging from 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal weight, while a BMI of 25 or higher indicates overweight or obesity.

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