BMI: Body Mass Index
Body Mass Index Formula

Obesity and BMI
Obesity is defined as an excessively high amount of body fat or adipose tissue in relation to lean body mass.  BMI is a common measure expressing the relationship (or ratio) of weight-to-height.  It is a mathematical formula in which a person's body weight in kilograms is divided by the square of his or her height in meters. The BMI is more highly correlated with body fat than any other indicator of height and weight.  Here is how you calculate BMI:

English Formula  BMI = [Weight in pounds ÷ Height in inches ÷ Height in inches] x 703

Example  A person weighing 210 pounds and 6 feet tall would have a BMI = 210 pounds divided by 72 inches divided by 72 inches multiplied by 703 = 28.5

Metric Formula   BMI = Weight in kilograms ÷ [Height in meters]² or  BMI =
[Weight in kilograms ÷ Height in cm ÷ Height in cm] x 10,000

Example  A person weighing 95.3 kilograms and 182.9 centimeters tall would have a BMI = 95.3 kg divided by 182.9 cm divided by 182.9 cm x 10,000 = 28.5

What BMI levels are risky?  According to the NIH Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, all adults (aged 18 years or older) who have a BMI of 25 or more are considered at risk for premature death and disability as a consequence of overweight and obesity. These health risks increase even more as the severity of an individual's obesity increases.