body mass index

noun

: a measure of body fat that is the ratio of the weight of the body in kilograms to the square of its height in meters

Examples of body mass index in a Sentence

A person with a body mass index of more than 30 is considered to be obese.

Recent Examples on the Web

Patients will first need prior authorization -- prescribing clinicians will submit documentation proving the patient meets strict body mass index (BMI) and health condition requirements. — Sony Salzman, ABC News, 1 July 2026

People over 40 with obesity appear to have both their blood pressure and cholesterol under control at levels rivaling their peers with normal body mass index, research published Wednesday in the Lancet has found. — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 1 July 2026

The disease is often associated with severe obesity, defined by a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher. — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 30 June 2026

One national survey of over 5,000 participants found that people who exercised in the morning tended to have a lower body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference as compared to midday and evening exercisers. — Jenessa Connor, Health, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

body mass index

noun

: a measure of body fat that is the ratio of the weight of the body in kilograms to the square of its height in meters

Medical Definition

body mass index

noun

: a measure of body fat that is the ratio of the weight of the body in kilograms to the square of its height in meters

a body mass index in adults of 25 to 29.9 is considered an indication of overweight, and 30 or more an indication of obesity

—abbreviation BMI

called also Quetelet index