BODY MASS INDEX

TAG: GS-2:  HEALTH

CONTEXT: Recent evaluations of Body Mass Index (BMI) have revealed its limitations in accurately assessing health risks due to its failure to account for body composition.

EXPLANATION:

 What is Body Mass Index:

• Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement of a person’s weight with respect to his or her height. It is more of an indicator than a direct measurement of a person’s total body fat.
• BMI, more often than not, correlates with total body fat. This means that as the BMI score increases, so does a person’s total body fat.

BMI calculation:

• BMI in an individual is calculated by the use of a mathematical formula. It can also be estimated using tables in which one can match height in inches to weight in pounds to estimate BMI.
• There are convenient calculators available on internet sites that help calculate BMI as well.
• The formula is – BMI = (Weight in kilograms) divided by (Height in metres squared)

• It is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters (kg/m²).
• For example, an adult weighing 58 kg and standing 1.70 m tall will have a BMI of 20.1 (BMI = 58 kg / (1.70 m * 1.70 m)).
• A normal BMI score is one that falls between 18.5 and 24.9. This indicates that a person is within the normal weight range for his or her height. A BMI chart is used to categorize a person as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese.

Analysis of India’s Situation:

• In developing countries like India, there is a dual burden of overnutrition as well as
• The prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents of both Indian girls and boys is lower when compared to children of developed nations.

• • World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines define a normal BMI range as 18.5 to 24.9, overweight as 25 or higher, and obesity as 30 or higher.
  • India ranks third and fifth from the bottom respectively among countries where 19-year-old girls and boys have a low BMI.
  • The mean BMI of 19-year-old boys is 20.1 in India, compared to a high of 29.6 in the Cook Islands and a low of 19.2 in Ethiopia.

There can be several reasons for this like variations in the epigenetic, dietary intakes, familial, psychosocial, parental education, occupations, income, etc.

Source:

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/how-bmi-is-becoming-an-inadequate-measure-for-health/article68677618.ece