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BMI Full Form

BMI Full Form

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on May 01, 2023 04:21 PM IST

What is the full form of BMI?

The Body Mass Index is the full name of the BMI. A measure that classifies people as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. It is the ratio of the square of your weight (kg) to your height (m). People with a high BMI have too much weight or body fat for their height. Your BMI gives you a rough estimate of your overall fitness and your chances of developing chronic conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, and more. People with large muscles can have a high BMI without any health risks. Belgian mathematician Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet introduced BMI in the 1830s, also known as a Quetelet index.

This Story also Contains
  1. What is the full form of BMI?
  2. Calculate BMI
  3. What does BMI have to do with your health?
  4. Improve your BMI
BMI Full Form
BMI Full Form

Calculate BMI

Calculating BMI requires two values: a person's height in metres and weight in kilograms. If your height is in inches, your weight should be pounded. The formula to calculate BMI is as follows:

BMI = Weight in Kilograms / (Height in Metres) x (Height in Metres)

What does BMI have to do with your health?

  • A healthy BMI is considered to be between 18.0 and 24.0.

  • If your BMI is below 18.0, you're considered to be underweight and may be at risk for health problems such as nutritional deficiencies, osteoporosis, and certain chronic diseases.

  • If your BMI is above 24.0, you're considered to be overweight and may be at risk for health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type II diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

  • If your BMI is between 25 and 29, you are considered overweight.

Improve your BMI

  • If your BMI is not healthy, you can improve it by changing your diet and physical activity.

  • You can also talk to your doctor about ways to improve your BMI.

  • BMI is just one tool that helps you assess your risk for health problems. Other factors, such as family history, lifestyle, and medical conditions, are also important. Talk to your doctor about your BMI and what it means for your health.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the limitations of using BMI?

BMI is not a direct measure of body fat, so it can be inaccurate for people who have a lot of muscle mass. 

  • BMI can also be inaccurate for people who have a lot of body fat.

  • BMI doesn't take into account age, sex, or ethnicity. 

  • BMI doesn't take into account where your body fat is located on your body (for example, carrying extra weight around your waist is more harmful than carrying extra weight around your hips).

2. What is BMI?

A measure that classifies people as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. It is the ratio of the square of your weight (kg) to your height (m). People with a high BMI have too much weight or body fat for their height.

3. Who introduced BMI?

Belgian mathematician Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet introduced BMI in the 1830s.

4. What is the formula for the BMI?

The formula is BMI = Weight in Kilograms / (Height in Metres) x (Height in Metres)

5. What does BMI mean for your health?

A healthy BMI is considered to be between 18.0 and 24.0.

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