Question

What is the body mass index? How is it calculated?

Short answer

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height to estimate their body fatness or skinniness. The formula for calculating BMI is: \( BMI = \frac{Weight\: (kg)}{Height^2\: (m^2)} \) To calculate BMI, convert the person's height to meters if necessary, then plug in their weight in kilograms and height in meters squared into the formula and find the BMI value.

Step-by-step solution

Define Body Mass Index #

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height to determine a person's body fatness or skinniness, and it is defined as the individual's body weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of their height (in meters). It provides a useful tool in estimating the healthiness of a person's body weight, although it should be noted that it does not directly measure a person's body fat. #

Gather information #

To calculate BMI, we need to know the person's weight in kilograms (kg) and height in meters (m). Ensure accurate information is available before proceeding to the calculation. #

Convert height to meters #

If the individual's height is given in centimeters (cm) or feet and inches, convert it to meters by using the following conversions: - 1 centimeter = 0.01 meters - 1 foot = 0.3048 meters - 1 inch = 0.0254 meters For example, if a person's height is 175 cm, the height in meters will be 175 x 0.01 = 1.75 meters. #

Calculate BMI #

To calculate BMI, use the following formula: \( BMI = \frac{Weight\: (kg)}{Height^2\: (m^2)} \) Plug in the individual's weight in kilograms and the height in meters squared into the formula and calculate the BMI value. For example, if a person weighs 70 kg and has a height of 1.75 m, their BMI would be: \( BMI = \frac{70}{(1.75)^2} = \frac{70}{3.0625} = 22.86 \) Therefore, the individual's BMI is 22.86.