engleski

Comparison of BMI and the Body Mass/Body Surface Ratio: Is BMI a Biased Tool?

For more than 50 years we are used to judge our body composition by using the body mass index (BMI).Since the BMI denominator is in fact, a substitute for body surface area (BSA) the Mosteller formula (BSA=(mass x height / 3600) ) can ½ ; ; be used to calculate the body mass/ body surface ratio (BM/BSA). The range 35.5-39.9 kg/m2 of BM/BSA is here chosen as sufficiently good in copying the distribution of normal BMI fields, for persons with more than 50 and less than 85 kg. The BM/BSA data suggest adults with more than 90 kg are obese regardless of their height. Adults with less than 55 kg and more than 150 cm tall are also outside the normal range of BM/BSA values. If these limitations are true, the BMI might be regarded as a biased tool, not applicable to individuals with body masses outside the 55 to 85 kg range. If we consider numerous body mass related health problems, it is possible that using a biased tool like the BMI, poor in extreme heavy or slim adults, can harm our slim or heavy adult patients, through allowing them to remain outside the true normal range of body mass.

body mass index; adiposity; body surface area

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