An older adult is admitted to the hospital. The patient’s height is 5 feet, 6 Inches (1.68M), and weigh 250 lb. (113.3kg). The nurse calculates the patient’s current body mass index (BMI) as: (Round your answer to the nearest whole number.)
A.
41.0
B.
35.5
C.
30.0
D.
40.0
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
To calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI), use the following formula:
BMI=weight (kg)height (m)2\text{BMI} = \frac{\text{weight (kg)}}{\text{height (m)}^2}BMI=height (m)2weight (kg)
Given:
- Height = 1.68 meters
- Weight = 113.3 kg
First, square the height in meters:
Height2=(1.68)2=2.8224 m2\text{Height}^2 = (1.68)^2 = 2.8224 \text{ m}^2Height2=(1.68)2=2.8224 m2
Next, divide the weight by this squared height value:
BMI=113.3 kg2.8224 m2≈40.1\text{BMI} = \frac{113.3 \text{ kg}}{2.8224 \text{ m}^2} \approx 40.1BMI=2.8224 m2113.3 kg≈40.1
Rounding this to the nearest whole number gives a BMI of 40.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
D. 40.0
Explanation
BMI is a simple index used to assess whether a person has a healthy body weight for their height. It is calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of the height in meters. This measure is commonly used because it is quick and easy to calculate and provides a general indication of body fatness.
In this scenario, the patient’s height is 1.68 meters and their weight is 113.3 kilograms. To find their BMI, we first square the height: 1.68 m×1.68 m=2.8224 m21.68 \text{ m} \times 1.68 \text{ m} = 2.8224 \text{ m}^21.68 m×1.68 m=2.8224 m2. We then divide the weight by this squared height: 113.3 kg2.8224 m2≈40.1 \frac{113.3 \text{ kg}}{2.8224 \text{ m}^2} \approx 40.12.8224 m2113.3 kg≈40.1.
The result is a BMI of approximately 40.1. Since BMI values are typically rounded to the nearest whole number, this is rounded to 40. This falls into the category of obesity, which is defined as a BMI of 30 or higher. Understanding BMI helps healthcare providers evaluate an individual’s risk for various health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.