Final answer:
The client's BMI is calculated to be approximately 32.6. This is done by converting their weight to kilograms and their height to meters, then using the formula BMI = kg/m². According to the BMI categories, a BMI of 32.6 classifies the client as obese.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate a client's body mass index (BMI), you must first convert their weight from pounds to kilograms and their height from inches to meters. For someone who weighs 215 pounds, you convert their weight to kilograms by dividing it by 2.20462, which equals approximately 97.52 kilograms. To convert a height of 5' 8" to meters, first convert the feet and inches to inches only (5 * 12 + 8 = 68 inches), and then multiply by 0.0254 to convert to meters, which equals approximately 1.7272 meters.
Next, calculate BMI by dividing the weight in kilograms (97.52 kg) by the height in meters squared (1.7272 m squared). The formula for BMI is BMI = kg/m². So, the BMI is calculated as 97.52 / (1.7272²) which is approximately 32.6.
Looking at the BMI categories: a BMI less than 18.5 is underweight, 18.5 - 24.9 is normal weight, 25.0 - 29.9 is overweight, and a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. Therefore, a client with a BMI of approximately 32.6 would be classified as obese.