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Body mass index

The body mass index (BMI), or Quetelet index, is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was devised between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing "social physics".
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Body mass index is defined as the individual's body weight divided by the
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square of his or her height. The formulae universally used in medicine produce a unit of measureof kg/m . BMI can also be determined using a BMI chart,
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which displays BMI as a function of weight (horizontal axis) and height (vertical axis) using contour lines for

different values of BMI or colors for different BMI categories.

SI units

Imperial/US Customary units

Category

BMI range kg/m


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BMI Prime

Mass (weight) of a 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) person with this BMI.

Severely underweight Underweight

less than 16.0

less than 0.66

less than 51.8 kilograms (8.16 st; 114 lb)

from 16.0 to 18.5

from 0.66 to 0.73 from 0.74 to 0.99 from 1.0 to 1.19

between 51.8 and 59.9 kilograms (8.16 and 9.43 st; 114 and 132 lb) between 59.9 and 81.0 kilograms (9.43 and 12.76 st; 132 and 179 lb) between 81.0 and 97.2 kilograms (12.76 and 15.31 st; 179 and 214 lb) between 97.2 and 113.4 kilograms (15.31 and 17.86 st; 214 and 250 lb) between 113.4 and 129.6 kilograms (17.86 and 20.41 st; 250 and 286 lb) from 129.6 kilograms (20.41 st; 286 lb)

Normal

from 18.5 to 25

Overweight

from 25 to 30

Obese Class I

from 30 to 35

from 1.2 to 1.39

Obese Class II

from 35 to 40

from 1.4 to 1.59

Obese Class III

over 40

over 1.6

Ideal body weight may be defined as the body weight that provides the lowest health risk. This varies widely by individual, but some methods exist so that you can determine your healthy weight range. These methods typically take factors such as height, age and gender into account.

Ideal body weight (IBW) is the weight that people are expected to weigh based on age, sex, and height. The ideal body weight today is used as a tool to calculate the dosage of most medications. There are two different formulas to determine ideal body weight; one formula for men and another for women. The history of the formulas for calculating ideal body weight began in 1871 when Dr. Broca (a French surgeon) created the formula known as Broca's index. An unknown person translated Broca's formula into pounds and inches and modified it to create a formula called the simple rule. In 1974, Dr. Devine converted the simple rule from pounds to kilograms and published that formula for medical use. The Devine formula was intended for use to calculate the dosage of certain medications such as gentamicin, digoxin and theophylline. However, after its publication, the formula became much more widely used and became the most commonly used formula. In 1983, Dr. Robinson published a modification of the Devine formula; this contemporary modification is still in use today to calculate the dosage of most medications. Broca formula Men: Ideal Body Weight (kilograms) = [Height (cm) - 100] - ([Height (cm) - 100] x 10%) Women: Ideal Body Weight (kilograms) = [Height (cm) - 100] + ([Height (cm) - 100] x 15%) Devine formula Men: Ideal Body Weight (kilograms) = 50 + 2.3kg per inch over 5 feet Women: Ideal Body Weight (kilograms) = 45.5 + 2.3kg per inch over 5 feet Hamwi formula Men: Ideal Body Weight kilograms) = 48kg + 2.7kg for each inch over 5 feet Women: Ideal Body Weight (in kilograms) = 45.5kg + 2.2kg for each inch over 5 feet Miller formula Men: Ideal Body Weight kilograms) = 56.2kg + 1.41kg for each inch over 5 feet Women:Ideal Body Weight (kilograms) = 53.1kg + 1.36kg for each inch over 5 feet Robinson formula Men: Ideal Body Weight (kilograms) = 52kg + 1.9kg for each inch over 5 feet Women:Ideal Body Weight (kilograms) = 49kg + 1.7kg for each inch over 5 feet Simple rule Men: Allow 110lbs for the first 5 feet and 5lbs for each additional inch. Women: Allow 100lbs for the first 5 feet and 5lbs for each additional inch. Other formulas Men: Ideal Body Weight (kilograms) = 50kg + 2.3kg for each inch of height over 5 feet Women: Ideal Body Weight (kilograms) = 45.5kg + 2.3kg for each inch of height over 5 feet Note: 1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb)

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