Question

Nurse calculates BMI for 4 patients. Which patient should the nurse classify as having a healthy body weight?

a) BMI 18.5
b) BMI 25.5
c) BMI 30.0
d) BMI 35.5

Answer 1

The patient with a BMI of 18.5 should be classified as having a healthy body weight since it falls within the normal weight range.

Step-by-step explanation:

When classifying body weight according to BMI (body mass index), the ranges are defined as follows: underweight (<18.5), normal weight (18.5-24.9), overweight (25-29.9), and obese (≥30). Within this context, the patient with a healthy body weight is the one with a BMI of 18.5, which falls into the normal weight range. In contrast, a BMI of 25.5 is considered overweight, 30.0 signifies obesity, and 35.5 indicates severe obesity.