How to Measure Body Mass
The body mass index (BMI) is a number obtained using the height and weight of a patient. An individual's body mass index indicates the percentage of body fat the patient is carrying. High levels of body fat can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea and degenerative joint diseases. People with normal body weight can have excess body fat. Doctors use body weight and body mass index in combination to assess the overall health of a patient.
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine height and body weight measurements in inches and pounds, respectively.
-
2
Multiply body weight by .45. For example, a person weighing 165 pounds will multiply 165 x .45 = 74.25.
-
-
3
Multiply body height by.0254. For example, a person 5 feet 10 inches tall is 70 inches in height. Multiply 70 x .0254 = 1.778.
-
4
Square the result in the previous step. In our example, 1.778 x 1.778 = 3.161284.
-
5
Divide the answer from the very first step by the answer from the previous step. In our example, that would be 74.25 divided by 3.161284 = 23.49.
-
6
The BMI is 23 when rounded down. A BMI that is 30 or greater is an obesity indicator.
-
1
