Homework Clinic
Science Clinic => Health Science => Anatomy => Topic started by: HCHenry on Apr 11, 2021
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Calculate the body mass index of a woman who is 5'5" tall and weighs 180 lbs. Now calculate the BMI of a man with those dimensions. 1 kg = 2.2 lbs, 1 m = 39.24 in. Is either individual considered obese? Explain. Could BMI be misleading as a means of indicating obesity? Explain.
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BMI is kg/m2. 1 kg/2.2 lb × 180 lb = 81.8 kg. 5 ft × 12 in/ft = 60 in.
1 m/39.24 in × 65 in = 1.66 m. 81.8 kg/(1.66m)2 = 29.7.
BMI calculation is the same for both genders, but the classification for obesity is not. For men, a BMI greater than 25 is obese; for women a BMI greater than 30 is obese. Based on this, only the man is considered obese, but the woman is on the border. BMI does not take into account the amount of lean weight versus fat weight, so a very fit and muscular person could be classified as obese based on BMI but will not have obesity-related health problems.