How is BMI calculated?

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Multiple Choice

How is BMI calculated?

BMI relates a person’s weight to their height to assess body mass. The standard way to calculate it uses metric units: divide weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. In other words, BMI = weight (kg) / [height (m)]^2. This form standardizes the measure so comparisons across different heights are meaningful. There is an alternative Imperial form that uses pounds and inches by dividing weight (lb) by height (in)^2 and multiplying by 703, but that’s just the same idea in different units. Forms like height divided by weight or weight multiplied by height don’t reflect mass relative to height and won’t yield a useful assessment. For example, someone weighing 70 kg at 1.75 m tall has BMI ≈ 70 / (1.75^2) ≈ 22.9.

BMI relates a person’s weight to their height to assess body mass. The standard way to calculate it uses metric units: divide weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. In other words, BMI = weight (kg) / [height (m)]^2. This form standardizes the measure so comparisons across different heights are meaningful. There is an alternative Imperial form that uses pounds and inches by dividing weight (lb) by height (in)^2 and multiplying by 703, but that’s just the same idea in different units. Forms like height divided by weight or weight multiplied by height don’t reflect mass relative to height and won’t yield a useful assessment. For example, someone weighing 70 kg at 1.75 m tall has BMI ≈ 70 / (1.75^2) ≈ 22.9.

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