Clinical tool
BMI
Body mass index from height and weight.
BMI is a population screening measure, not a diagnosis of adiposity. It does not distinguish muscle from fat and is unreliable in athletes, the very muscular, older adults with sarcopenia, and anyone with significant oedema or ascites. It is not valid in pregnancy, and children and adolescents require age- and sex-specific BMI centiles rather than these adult thresholds.
For practising medics only. Clinical tools support judgement, they do not replace it. Always verify results against current guidelines and the patient in front of you.