Body Weight - What's Normal? / Question
Published: May 13, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
What is a BMI?
Signed: What is a BMI?
Dear What is a BMI?,
BMI is an acronym for Body Mass Index. Body Mass Index is a common measure that expresses the relationship (or ratio) of weight to height. BMI is a way to determine the percentage of body fat, but because only the height and weight are examined, health status can not be measured by this tool. It is only a guideline that along with other information that a healthcare provider can obtain determines the overall health status of a person.
For more information on BMI, please see Appropriate Height & Weight.
FX highly recommends not to take any height and weight chart to heart. Many things go into figuring out an appropriate weight for a given person. And, every person is different. Some use height and weight, other use body fat measurement and analysis, while even others use different calculations and measurements. None are 100% accurate. If you have questions about your weight, FX recommends speaking to your doctor or a nutritionist about this rather than looking at one of these charts.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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