Body Mass Index (BMI)

Body mass index (BMI) may be easily determined with the equation: weight/height squared, in kg and cm respectively. This is an accurate representation of morbidity and disease risk (heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, and some cancers) for the majority of the population. However, it is less useful for those with an unusually high muscle mass, like some athletes and perhaps those people with physically challenging jobs, such as working in construction. This is because muscle mass is not taken into account in the BMI calculation.