Question

why is bmi an imperfect tool for measuring body composition? check all that apply:

• it does not take into account a person’s height.
• it does not take into account level of fitness.
• it is not able to indicate disease risk.
• it may underestimate body fat in some individuals.
• it does not include a measurement of body weight.

Explanation:

BMI is calculated as $\frac{\text{weight (kg)}}{\text{height (m)}^2}$, so it uses height and weight, eliminating the first and last options. It does correlate with some disease risk, so the third option is incorrect. However, it ignores fitness (muscle mass is denser than fat, so fit people may have high BMI but low body fat) and can underestimate body fat in people with low muscle mass (e.g., older adults).

Answer:

• It does not take into account level of fitness.
• It may underestimate body fat in some individuals.