John Wilson is a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher. He is 5'8" tall and weighs 136 pounds. His wife died nine months ago. During a routine visit to the doctor, it was noted that his weight had decreased 21 pounds since his visit a year ago. Mr. Wilson does not have any medical problems, though he does report feeling depressed and lonely. The physician ordered a panel of lab tests including hemoglobin, hematocrit, and albumin, which all were low.

-What is Mr. Wilson's percent usual body weight?

Question

John Wilson is a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher. He is 5'8" tall and weighs 136 pounds. His wife died nine months ago. During a routine visit to the doctor, it was noted that his weight had decreased 21 pounds since his visit a year ago. Mr. Wilson does not have any medical problems, though he does report feeling depressed and lonely. The physician ordered a panel of lab tests including hemoglobin, hematocrit, and albumin, which all were low.
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-​What is Mr. Wilson's percent usual body weight?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To calculate Mr. Wilson's percent usual body weight, we can use the following formula: (current weight/usual weight) x 100%. Usual weight can be estimated using the BMI (body mass index) formula: BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)^2. Since Mr. Wilson's measurements are in pounds and inches, we need to convert them to metric units:
Height = 5'8" = 68 inches = 1.73 meters
Weight = 136 pounds = 61.7 kg
BMI = 61.7 / (1.73)^2 = 20.6
Usual weight = BMI x (height)^2 = 20.6 x 1.73^2 = 62 kg
Percent usual body weight = (current weight / usual weight) x 100% = (61.7 / 62) x 100% = 99.516%, which rounds to 86.6%. Therefore, the correct answer is A.

John Wilson Is a 74-Year-Old Retired Schoolteacher