Body
Mass Index
The
United States is becoming more health conscious, and as a result, the problem
of obesity has gotten more attention. The Body Mass Index (BMI), relates a
persons height and weight, and is often used to determine if someone is
overweight. The table below tells the weight status for a given BMI.
BMI
Weight Status
Below 18.5
Underweight
18.5 24.9
Normal
24.9 29.9
Overweight
29.9 and above
Obese
The
BMI is calculated using the formula:
BMI = 703*w
/ h2 where w is the weight in pounds and h is the height in
inches.
Solving
this formula for h, we see that h = sqrt[703w / BMI] .jpg>
1.
Find the weight of your favorite celebrity. This could be a movie or television
personality, athlete, politician or even yourself.
2.
Using the weight from part 1, determine the height the celebrity would need to
be in order to fall into each of the four weight status categories listed in
the table. In other words, select a BMI less than 18.5 (any value, you make it
up) and find h; then repeat using a new BMI in the range from 18.5 to 24.9,
and so on.
3.
Using the Internet or other library resource, find the actual height of the
celebrity.
4.
Determine his or her actual weight status (underweight, normal, overweight or
obese) using the original BMI formula at the top of the instructions.
5.
How tall would he or she need to be for the normal weight status?
6.
Would you consider him or her to actually be in the weight status this formula
says based on his or her actual height and weight and considering his or her
other physical characteristics? Why or why not? Think about why there may be
differences in your calculations and the actual figures.
7.
The BMI formula was created by a Belgian Statistician (not a physician),
Lambert Adolphe Quetelet, in the early 1830s. Do you think BMI is a fair
indication of a persons weight classification? Why or why not?
8.
Summarize your findings in writing using proper style and grammar.
Include
references formatted according to APA style if you are using any information
that is not common knowledge.Body
Mass IndexThe
United States is becoming more health conscious, and as a result, the problem
of obesity has gotten more attention. The Body Mass Index (BMI), relates a
persons height and weight, and is often used to determine if someone is
overweight. The table below tells the weight status for a given BMI.BMIWeight StatusBelow 18.5Underweight18.5 24.9Normal24.9 29.9Overweight29.9 and aboveObeseThe
BMI is calculated using the formula:Solving
this formula for h, we see that h = sqrt[703w / BMI] .jpg>1.
Find the weight of your favorite celebrity. This could be a movie or television
personality, athlete, politician or even yourself.2.
Using the weight from part 1, determine the height the celebrity would need to
be in order to fall into each of the four weight status categories listed in
the table. In other words, select a BMI less than 18.5 (any value, you make it
up) and find h; then repeat using a new BMI in the range from 18.5 to 24.9,
and so on.3.
Using the Internet or other library resource, find the actual height of the
celebrity.4.
Determine his or her actual weight status (underweight, normal, overweight or
obese) using the original BMI formula at the top of the instructions.5.
How tall would he or she need to be for the normal weight status?6.
Would you consider him or her to actually be in the weight status this formula
says based on his or her actual height and weight and considering his or her
other physical characteristics? Why or why not? Think about why there may be
differences in your calculations and the actual figures.7.
The BMI formula was created by a Belgian Statistician (not a physician),
Lambert Adolphe Quetelet, in the early 1830s. Do you think BMI is a fair
indication of a persons weight classification? Why or why not?8.
Summarize your findings in writing using proper style and grammar.Include
references formatted according to APA style if you are using any information
that is not common knowledge.
