BMI - Body mass index

Body mass index (BMI) is the ratio of body weight and the square of height that is calculated in kg/m2.

Although BMI does not reflect the actual proportion of body fat, it is often used in medicine to determine insufficient or exessive weight.

Warning: Nutritional status assessment of individuals, according to BMI, may be inappropriate, especially in athletes or elderly residents.  

In children, BMI is calculated the same way as in adults, but is then compared with the BMI of children of the same gender and age, according to the percentile. BMI below the 5th percentile shows a lack of weight and BMI above the 95th percentile over-weight.