BMI

How it is used

Used in clinics, research and public health. People say 'a BMI of 27' or 'her BMI is 31', reading each letter: B-M-I. According to the WHO, an adult BMI of 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 or more is obesity. Professionals note that BMI does not show body fat or where it is stored.

Example sentences

1. Her BMI is 23, which is in the normal range, but her waist circumference is high.

2. For children, BMI is compared with growth charts for age and sex.

Common collocations

• calculate BMI
• high BMI
• BMI of 30 or above
• BMI category

Related terms

• anthropometric measurementsMeasurements of the size and proportions of the body, such as height, weight, waist circumference, skinfold thickness and mid-upper arm circumference, used to assess nutrition and growth.
• obesityA chronic condition in which a person has excess body fat that may harm their health. In adults it is commonly defined as a body mass index of 30 or more.
• waist circumferenceA measurement around the waist, usually taken midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, used to estimate fat stored around the abdomen.
• body compositionThe proportions of fat, muscle, bone and water that make up a person's body. It gives more information about health than body weight alone.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• BMI · Medicine

More terms: Nutrition Assessment

• nutrition assessment
• dietary intake
• food diary
• nutritional status
• 24-hour recall