Measurement Tools — BMI

What It Is

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a relationship between weight and height that is associated with body fat and health risk.

Equipment Used

Scale measures weight.
Height is measured by a tape measure or preferably by a stadiometer, which is a special device on many scales used for measuring height. It is typically found in a doctor's office or clinic.

How It's Done

Weight is converted to kilograms, height is converted to meters and then squared. These numbers are then put into an equation to determine BMI: BMI = kg/m².

Pros

It's easy to look up on a BMI chart.
Many studies have identified the health risks associated with a wide range of BMIs (both high and low values.)

Cons

It can misclassify up to one out of four people.
It does not take into account location of body fat.
It cannot accurately classify elderly individuals who are frail and sedentary.
It cannot accurately classify body builders.
It does not distinguish between body fat and lean body mass.

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