Body Mass Index
Medical health research papers are a speciality of Paper Masters. A key determinant of health that is discussed in many research papers is body mass index (BMI). Have our nursing or medical researchers write your BMI research paper and give you an excellent guide in explaining its relation to physical health.
Body mass index (BMI) is a measurement of a person's overall body shape based on weight and height. BMI is a simple calculation. It is either
- weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters,
- Weight in US pounds divided by the square of height in inches multiplied by 703.
BMI was developed by Belgian scientist Adolphe Quetelet between 1830 and 1850 and largely used today to indicate obesity.
BMI Scale
While the BMI scale had been inexistence for over a century, it was not until 1972 that the Journal of Chronic Diseases proclaimed that it was the best formula for understanding the percentage of body fat. However, article author Ancel Keys stated that BMI was inappropriate for diagnosing individuals. This has not stopped the American medical community from fixating on BMI as the standard for classifying a person as overweight or obese.
Body Mass Index and Obesity
In the United States, a person is classified as overweight with a BMI of 25. A 1994 survey indicated that almost 60% of American men and 50% of women had a BMI over 25. These figures have only increased. In 2007, 63% of Americans were classified as overweight or obese, with 26% of those in the obese category, with a BMI over 30. Despite the fact that there are numerous shortcomings with using BMI, many medical insurance companies use the BMI rate in order to deny coverage or raise rates for customers.