Body mass index

Body mass index (BMI) is body mass in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. It is used to classify weight categories, but does not directly measure body fat or distinguish fat from muscle.

BMI formula: The calculation of body mass index as mass in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. This equation produces the single number used in BMI classification.
Obesity screening: The use of measurements and tests to identify people who may have obesity-related health risks. BMI commonly serves as a first-pass indicator in screening.
Body fat percentage: The proportion of total body mass made up of fat. Unlike BMI, it estimates fat directly, although measurement methods vary.
Adolphe Quetelet: A Belgian astronomer and statistician who developed the statistical study of human populations. He introduced the height-adjusted mass measure later called BMI.
Obesity stigma: Negative stereotypes, discrimination, or social exclusion directed at people because of body weight or size. BMI labels can influence how body size is discussed and judged.
BMI classification: The grouping of BMI values into categories such as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. These thresholds turn the calculated number into weight-category labels.
Epidemiology: The study of how health conditions and related factors are distributed across populations. BMI makes large population comparisons practical because it is easy to calculate.
Waist circumference: The distance around the abdomen measured at a specified anatomical location. It offers a direct measure of abdominal size associated with central adiposity.
Quetelet index: The ratio of body mass in kilograms to height in metres squared, named after Adolphe Quetelet. This was the measure’s original name before it became known as BMI.
Weight bias in healthcare: Unequal or prejudicial treatment in healthcare based on a patient's body weight. Overreliance on BMI can affect clinical attention and treatment decisions.

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