body mass index

noun

: a measure of body fat that is the ratio of the weight of the body in kilograms to the square of its height in meters

Examples of body mass index in a Sentence

A person with a body mass index of more than 30 is considered to be obese.

Recent Examples on the Web

What does weight really tell us about our health? 01:41 CNN — For years, medical experts have defined obesity primarily based on body mass index, which measures stored fat by calculating height and weight, to determine a person’s health risks. —Faye Chiu, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025

The results showed that Pilates can significantly lower body weight, body mass index (BMI, a measure of body fat based on height and weight), and body fat percentage in adults who are overweight or obese. —Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 21 Jan. 2025

An international committee of scientists has proposed a new way to determine excess body fat instead of just relying on body mass index (BMI). —Toria Sheffield, People.com, 19 Jan. 2025

Then there’s the mounting scientific evidence that weight–and, accordingly, body mass index–are unreliable indicators of health. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

body mass index

noun

: a measure of body fat that is the ratio of the weight of the body in kilograms to the square of its height in meters

Medical Definition

body mass index

noun

: a measure of body fat that is the ratio of the weight of the body in kilograms to the square of its height in meters

a body mass index in adults of 25 to 29.9 is considered an indication of overweight, and 30 or more an indication of obesity

—abbreviation BMI

called also Quetelet index