In the mid-1800s, a Belgian mathematician developed what would eventually become the body mass index (BMI). This equation – calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by height in meters squared – has been an informative tool to determine if an individual is underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. However, classical BMI is known to misclassify one-third of the population.
ISB researchers have constructed a biological BMI that provides a more accurate representation of metabolic health and is more varied, informative and actionable than long-used classical BMI.
