How BMI Measures Health   

• Body mass index (BMI) is a widely used screening tool that measures a person’s weight in relation to their height. First introduced in the 1830s as the Quetelet Index, it provides a simple way to estimate body fat and identify possible health risks. For adults, BMI categories are fixed, with a “healthy” range between 18.5 and 24.9. For teenagers, however, it is more complex. Because their bodies are still growing and changing during puberty, BMI is interpreted using BMI-for-age percentiles. This means a teen’s measurements are compared with those of others of the same age and gender. For example, a teen in the 95th percentile is considered obese compared with their peers. Although BMI is useful for tracking general health trends, it does have its limits. It focuses on weight, not body composition, so it cannot distinguish between muscle and bone. Because of this, health care providers often use BMI alongside other measures, such as blood pressure and waist-to-height ratio, to get a clearer picture of a person’s health. Sean Jung R&D Division Director junior/1778115729/1678407625