BMI - Lecture 3.2

Question 1

What is BMI?

Answer 1

Body mass index which is a surrogate marker of body fat

Question 2

How is BMI calculated?

Answer 2

By dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared

Question 3

What are the BMI categories for adults?

Answer 3

18.5-24.9 (healthy), 25-29.9 (overweight), 30-39.99 (obese), 40+ (severely obese)

Question 4

What does BMI not account for?

Answer 4

BMI does not account for factors like age, sex, ethnicity, and muscle mass

Question 5

What matters to BMI?

Answer 5

Distribution of body fat matters

Question 6

What does visceral fat poses?

Answer 6

Visceral fat (around abdomen) poses higher health risks

Question 7

What does ethnicity affect?

Answer 7

Ethnicity affects fat distribution

Question 8

What do BAME individuals tend to have?

Answer 8

More central fat

Question 9

What is an alternative measurement?

Answer 9

Waist-to-height ratio

Question 10

Who recommended the waist-to-height ratio?

Answer 10

NICE (2023) recommended it as an alternative measure of abdominal fat

Question 11

How does combining the two measurements help?

Answer 11

It provides a more comprehensive assessment of obesity-related health risks

Question 12

What is a special consideration of BMI in children?

Answer 12

BMI in children uses a different system with centile charts to plot weight and height

Question 13

What should health professionals do?

Answer 13

They should use their judgment when deciding to calculate BMI and consider individual factors