Related topics: obesity , bmi
Body mass index
hideThe body mass index (BMI), or Quetelet index, is a controversial statistical measurement which compares a person's weight and height. Though it does not actually measure the percentage of body fat, it may be a useful tool to estimate a healthy body weight based on how tall a person is. Due to its ease of measurement and calculation, it is the most widely used diagnostic tool to identify weight problem within a population including: underweight, overweight and obesity. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing "social physics". Body mass index is defined as the individual's body weight divided by the square of his or her height. The formulae universally used in medicine produce a unit of measure of kg/m2. BMI can also be determined using a BMI chart, which displays BMI as a function of weight (horizontal axis) and height (vertical axis) using contour lines for different values of BMI or colours for different BMI categories.
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News tagged with body mass index
Poverty can physically impair brain, reducing children's ability to learn
Apr 10, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Chronic stress from growing up in poverty can physiologically impact children's brains, impairing their working memory and diminishing their ability to develop language, reading and problem-solving skills, ...
Love handles put the squeeze on lungs
Mar 06, 2009 |
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There's more bad news for people who carry excess weight around their waists: Not only is abdominal obesity associated with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and a host of other health problems collectively known ...
Mayo Clinic study suggests those who have chronic pain may need to assess vitamin D status
Medicine & Health / Medications
Mar 20, 2009 |
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Mayo Clinic research shows a correlation between inadequate vitamin D levels and the amount of narcotic medication taken by patients who have chronic pain. This correlation is an important finding as researchers discover ...
Does Size Matter? Study shows Taller People Earn More Money
Other Sciences / Social Sciences
Jul 13, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Taller men are able to earn more money than their shorter counterparts simply because taller people are perceived to be more intelligent and powerful, this according to a study published in The Economic Re ...
Being overweight just as risky to health as being a smoker
Feb 25, 2009 |
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Obese adolescents have the same risk of premature death in adulthood as people who smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day, while those who are overweight have the same risk as less heavy smokers, according to research published ...
Waist size predictor of heart failure in men and women
Apr 08, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Adding to the growing evidence that a person’s waist size is an important indicator of heart health, a study led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has found ...
Genes that influence start of menstruation identified for first time
May 17, 2009 |
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Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School, along with collaborators from research institutions across Europe and the United States, have for the first time identified two genes that are involved in determining when girls ...
Following a healthy lifestyle is on the decline in the US
May 27, 2009 |
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Despite the well-known benefits of having a lifestyle that includes physical activity, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, moderate alcohol use and not smoking, only a small proportion ...
Two dietary oils, two sets of benefits for older women with diabetes
Jul 07, 2009 |
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A study comparing how two common dietary oil supplements affect body composition suggests that both oils, by themselves, can lower body fat in obese postmenopausal women with Type 2 diabetes.
Study finds tall people at top of wages ladder
Other Sciences / Social Sciences
May 17, 2009 |
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Tall people earn higher wages than their vertically-challenged counterparts while being obese does not mean a slimmed-down pay packet, according to a new study in Australia.
Extended or shortened sleep duration linked to weight gain
Jun 11, 2009 |
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Body Mass Index (BMI) varies as a function of habitual sleep duration, according to a new study.
Thinner thighs, weaker heart
Sep 03, 2009 |
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Men and women whose thighs are less than 60cm in circumference have a higher risk of premature death and heart disease, according to research published on BMJ.com today. The study also concluded that individuals whose thighs ...
Severe breathing disorders during sleep are associated with an increased risk of dying
Aug 17, 2009 |
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Severe breathing disorders during sleep are associated with an increased risk of dying from any cause according to research published this week in the open access journal PLoS Medicine. The study finds that the increased risk o ...
Psoriasis associated with diabetes and high blood pressure in women
Apr 20, 2009 |
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Women with psoriasis appear to have an increased risk for developing diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure), according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Dermatology.
Obesity contributes to rapid cartilage loss
Jul 14, 2009 |
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Obesity, among other factors, is strongly associated with an increased risk of rapid cartilage loss, according to a study published in the August issue of Radiology.
