PBL Flashcards
1
Q
What is the calculation for BMI?
A
Weight / height^2
Kgs / m^2
2
Q
What are some advantages of using BMI?
A
- can help guide people to be healthier as it correlates with body fat and future health risks
- easy, free and non invasive
- research - can provide population data that allows comparisons to be made across a range of factors e.g. time, region, subgroups
3
Q
What are the limitations of using BMI?
A
BMI measures uses ‘weight’ so does not distinguish between fat, muscle and bone.
- older people may have a healthy BMI but too much fat
- women may have a healthy BMI but too much fat
- athletes may have an unhealthy BMI but not be overweight
Black and ethnic minority groups have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes with a BMI>23 even though this would be considered ‘healthy’ otherwise.
