What is the body mass index (BMI)?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The body mass index (BMI) is a useful indicator for comparing one's weight to expected weights based on their height. It is calculated by dividing one's weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared. A BMI of 18.5-24.9 is considered healthy, while a BMI of 25 or higher indicates overweight or obesity.

Answer: A is incorrect because the BMI does not take into account the amount of muscle in the body. Two individuals with the same BMI can have different amounts of muscle mass.

Answer: B is incorrect because while the BMI is influenced by the amount of body fat one has compared to lean tissue, it is not a definitive measure of body composition. Other methods, such as skinfold thickness measurements and bioelectrical impedance, are more accurate for determining body fat percentage.

Answer: D is incorrect because the BMI is not related to the proportion of daily calories derived from specific nutrients. It only takes into account weight and height.

What Is the Body Mass Index (BMI)