What Is BMI?
BMI is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. BMI does not measure body fat precisely.
But research has shown that BMI is moderately correlated with more direct measures of body fat obtained from skinfold thickness measurements, bioelectrical impedance, densitometry (underwater weighing), dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and other methods.
Also, BMI appears to be as strongly correlated with various metabolic and disease outcomes as these more direct measures of body fatness.
BMI is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform screening method for weight categories, for example, underweight, normal or healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.
How is BMI used?
A high BMI can be an indicator of high body fatness. BMI can be used as a screening tool but is not diagnostic of a person’s body fatness or health.
What are the health consequences of obesity for adults?
People who are obese are at increased risk for many diseases and health conditions, including the following:
- High blood pressure (Hypertension)
- High levels of triglycerides (Dyslipidemia)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Gallbladder disease
- Osteoarthritis (a breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint)
- Sleep apnea and breathing problems
- Chronic inflammation and increased oxidative stress
- Some cancers (endometrial, breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder, and liver)
- Low quality of life
- Mental illnesses such as clinical depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders
- Body pain and difficulty with physical functioning