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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Research published in March by the American Heart Association found that visceral fat had a stronger association with the risk of heart failure than body mass index (BMI). — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 Researchers found that the link between late-night eating and liver disease remained even after accounting for factors such as body mass index (BMI), diabetes, physical activity, alcohol consumption, total calories, and diet quality. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 9 Oct. 2026 First, the team assessed participants for sarcopenia based on lean mass adjusted for body mass index. — Currie Engel, HEALTH, 6 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, the share of people with a body mass index at or above 30 decreased by more than 21% three months after switching to oral Wegovy. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for body mass index

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of body mass index was in 1983

Browse Nearby Words

body mark
body mass index
body mechanics
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Cite this Entry

“Body mass index.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/body%20mass%20index. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on body mass index

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about body mass index

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