Question

Sam is 30 years old and rarely exercises. During his annual checkup, his doctor calculated his body mass index (BMI) as 27.5 and told him this number was not due to muscle or bone. What would Sam be considered?

a) Underweight
b) Normal weight
c) Overweight
d) Obese

Answer 1

As Sam has a BMI of 27.5, he would be considered overweight. The BMI categorizes individuals as overweight when their score falls between 25 and 29.9, an indicator that is based on their weight-to-height ratio. So the correct answer is option (C).

Step-by-step explanation:

If Sam has a body mass index (BMI) of 27.5 and this number is not attributed to muscle or bone mass, then according to the BMI scale, Sam would be considered c) overweight. A BMI ranging from 25 to 29.9 falls within the overweight category, whereas a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. The BMI scale is a tool used to indicate if a person has a healthy weight in relation to their height, although it doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat mass.

However, as Sam's doctor said his BMI wasn't due to muscle or bone, the assessment that he is overweight seems appropriate. Additionally, it's important to acknowledge that while BMI can predict health risks related to overweight and obesity, it may not perfectly apply to every individual due to its failure to account for various factors such as fitness level, muscle mass, and fat distribution.