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

No appreciable glycemic improvement was observed in healthy normoglycemic populations, and there was no significant effect on body mass index (BMI). — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

That includes simple calculations like body mass index and mean arterial pressure, but also more complex prediction models for risks and outcomes. — Andrew Joseph, STAT, 20 July 2026

This is sometimes the case for men with excess weight (a body mass index of 27 or higher). — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026

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

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