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FAQ > Glossary > Body Mass Index (BMI)
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BMI (Body Mass Index) is a calculation used to determine the percentage of body fat in the human body.
The formula is a person's weight divided by their height squared. For example if your height is 1.92 metres, and your weight is 90kg. The calculation would be 90/(1.92*1.92) = 24.41.
A BMI of 25 or above is generally classified as overweight, a BMI of 30 or above indicates obesity. There are many reasons why this could be inaccurate as the BMI stats do not differentiate between muscle mass, fat mass or body shape. So for example a healthy athlete with a muscular build, could be classified as overweight or even obese based on the formula above.
It is worthwhile stating though that even though this is not the best method it is a very quick and non-intrusive guide. For more accuracy other tests should be considered such as bioelectrical impedance.
Last updated on November 29, 2010 by Darryl Edwards
