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

Researchers and clinicians generally define obesity based on a measure called body mass index, or BMI, which is the ratio of a person’s weight in kilograms to their height in meters, squared. —David B. Sarwer, The Conversation, 21 Nov. 2025

May Support Heart Health Cranberry may improve some risk factors for heart disease, such as blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). —Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 13 Nov. 2025

People who qualify include patients with a body mass index of 27 or above with prediabetes or established cardiovascular disease; people with a BMI of 30 or more with related health conditions; or those with severe obesity, or a BMI of 35 and above. —Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2025

Medicare recipients with prediabetes and a body mass index, or BMI, of 27 or greater can get the medication. —Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025

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