Body Mass Index

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical measure of an individual's body fat based on their height and weight. It is commonly used to categorize individuals into different weight status categories, such as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. The formula for BMI is weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. BMI provides a quick and simple assessment of body composition, although it does not directly measure body fat percentage or distribution.

Over the past few decades, there has been a noticeable global increase in the average BMI values, indicative of a rising prevalence of overweight and obesity. This trend is often associated with changes in lifestyle, dietary habits, and reduced physical activity, contributing to a growing public health concern due to the associated risk of various chronic diseases, including cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and certain cancers. Efforts to address this trend typically involve promoting healthier lifestyles, encouraging physical activity, and fostering nutritional awareness.

The interactive figure below show the worldwide average of BMI from 1975 till 2016. The data has been obtained from the Global Health Observatory data repository.

A noticeable observation in this figure is the slightly higher values of average BMI for females. According to a 2022 study by Boutari and Mantzoros, this difference is expected, given the biologically driven higher percentage of body fat in women and other fundamental sex differences.