Body Mass Index (BMI) is a medical screening tool that estimates a person's body fat based on their height and weight ratio. It is used to identify potential weight-related health risks.
BMI Formula
The metric formula is:
BMI = \frac{weight\text{ (kg)}}{height^{2}\text{ (m^{2})}}
For imperial calculations, the formula incorporates a scaling factor:
BMI = \frac{weight\text{ (lbs)}}{height^{2}\text{ (inches)}} \times 703
Classification Categories
World Health Organization (WHO) outlines standard weight classifications:
- Underweight: BMI below 18.5
- Normal Weight: BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
- Overweight: BMI between 25.0 and 29.9
- Obese: BMI of 30.0 or higher
Use these metrics as a screening guideline, not as a direct diagnostic tool.