Categories >> Body Measurements >> Body Weight
Human body weight is the mass of a person, which includes lean tissue and fat. A person’s weight can be measured using a weighing scale, but it’s best to remove shoes and heavy accessories. [1, 2]
Body mass index (BMI) [2]
• A BMI of 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 is considered a healthy weight [2]
• BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared (kg/m^2) [2]
• BMI is a useful rule of thumb for categorizing a person’s weight based on their height and tissue mass [3]
• BMI can be used to predict a person’s health risk for certain conditions [3, 4]
Body weight classifications [3, 5]
• Underweight: BMI is less than 18.5 kg/m2
• Normal weight: BMI is 18.5–24.9 kg/m2
• Overweight: BMI is greater than 25 kg/m2
• Pre-obese: BMI is 25–29.9 kg/m2
• Obese: BMI is 30 kg/m2 or more
Factors that affect body weight [6]
• Genetics: Multiple genes regulate body weight
• Diet: Energy-dense diets can increase the risk of obesity and obesity-related diseases
• Environment: Environmental signals, such as diet, can influence body weight
Health risks associated with body weight [4]
• Being underweight, overweight, or obese can increase the risk of developing heart disease, respiratory disease, and certain cancers
• Being underweight, overweight, or obese can also increase the risk of fertility issues
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_body_weight
[2] https://taylorandfrancis.com/knowledge/Medicine_and_healthcare/Anatomy/Body_weight/
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index
[4] https://www.trs.texas.gov/Pages/healthcare-news-202311-healthy-weight.aspx
[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/body-weight
[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/body-weight