Expand and explain BMI.
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BMI stands for Body Mass Index, a commonly used measure to assess a person's body weight relative to their height. It is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters (BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)^2).
BMI is widely used as a screening tool to categorize individuals into different weight status categories, including underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. The classification based on BMI is as follows:
While BMI is a useful and convenient tool for population-level assessments of weight status, it has limitations. It does not directly measure body fat percentage or distribution of fat and muscle, which are important factors in health assessment. For example, a highly muscular person may have a high BMI due to muscle mass, not necessarily excess body fat.
Despite its limitations, BMI remains a valuable initial screening tool for identifying individuals who may be at risk of weight-related health issues and can guide further evaluation and interventions.