Das Bild ist noch nicht vollständig geladen. Note that the calculator also computes the Ponderal Index in addition to BMI, both of which are discussed below in detail.
BMI introduction
BMI is a measurement of a person's leanness or corpulence based on their height and weight, and is intended to quantify tissue mass.
Specifically, the value obtained from the calculation of BMI is used to categorize whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese depending on what range the value falls between.
These ranges of BMI vary based on factors such as region and age, and are sometimes further divided into subcategories such as severely underweight or very severely obese.
BMI is only an estimate that cannot take body composition into account. Generally, according to the CDC:
- Older adults tend to have more body fat than younger adults with the same BMI.
- Women tend to have more body fat than men for an equivalent BMI.
- Muscular individuals and highly trained athletes may have higher BMIs due to large muscle mass.
In children and adolescents:
The same factors that limit the efficacy of BMI for adults can also apply to children and adolescents.
Below is a list of said risks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- High blood pressure
- Higher levels of LDL cholesterol, which is widely considered "bad cholesterol," lower levels of HDL cholesterol, considered to be good cholesterol in moderation, and high levels of triglycerides
- Type II diabetes
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Gallbladder disease
- Osteoarthritis, a type of joint disease caused by breakdown of joint cartilage
- Sleep apnea and breathing problems
- Certain cancers (endometrial, breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder, liver)
- Low quality of life
- Mental illnesses such as clinical depression, anxiety, and others
- Body pains and difficulty with certain physical functions
- Generally, an increased risk of mortality compared to those with a healthy BMI
As can be seen from the list above, there are numerous negative, in some cases fatal, outcomes that may result from being overweight.
For example, an older person who is considered a healthy weight, but is completely inactive in their daily life may have significant amounts of excess body fat even though they are not heavy. Aufgrund der einfachen Messung ist die Berechnung des BMI das am häufigsten verwendete Diagnoseverfahren zur Einordnung der Körperlast.
While BMI can be a useful tool when considering large populations, it is not reliable for determining leanness or corpulence in individuals. In thin children, the difference in BMI can also be due to fat-free mass.
That being said, BMI is fairly indicative of body fat for 90-95% of the population, and can effectively be used along with other measures to help determine an individual's healthy body weight.
BMI formula
Below are the equations used for calculating BMI in the International System of Units (SI) and the US customary system (USC) using a 5'10", 160-pound individual as an example:
| USC Units: |
|
| SI, Metric Units: |
|
BMI Prime
BMI prime is the ratio of a person's measured BMI to the upper limit of BMI that is considered "normal," by institutions such as the WHO and the CDC.
Though it may differ in some countries, such as those in Asia, this upper limit, which will be referred to as BMIupper is 25 kg/m2.
The BMI prime formula is:
Since BMI prime is a ratio of two BMI values, BMI prime is a dimensionless value. Starten Sie dann den Druckprozess erneut.