Final answer:
To calculate Body Mass Index (BMI), you need a person's weight and height. BMI is used to estimate body fat content and categorize individuals as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese, but it has limitations because it does not consider fat distribution or muscle mass, and can vary across different populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate a person's Body Mass Index (BMI), the specific information needed includes the person's weight and height. The BMI is an estimate of a person's body fat content and is calculated by dividing their weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters. A BMI between 18-24.9 is considered to be a normal weight range; a BMI between 25-29.9 indicates overweight; and a BMI over 30 is used to categorize a person as obese.
BMI has its limitations as it does not take into account fat mass or fat distribution in the body. For instance, highly muscular individuals may have a high BMI but not have a high body fat percentage, leading to potential misclassifications. Similarly, variations in BMI interpretation can also occur across different racial groups and age brackets due to differences in body composition, suggesting the need for additional measurements to accurately assess a person's health profile.