Name: Course/ Group No.

Date:

LEARNING ACTIVITY NO. 3

BODY MASS INDEX DETERMINATION
OBJECTIVES
1. To compute for the body mass index of a person and know its category;
2. To determine how BMI affect a patient’s drug dosing regimen;
3. To appreciate the importance of maintaining one’s own healthy weight.

DISCUSSION:
Obesity can alter a drug’s pharmacokinetics, it is common in our society and it is an
imporant source of pharmacokinetic variation. With obesity, the ratio of body fat to lean
tissure is greater than in non-obese patients. Fat tissue contains less water than in lean
tissue is greater than in non-obese patients. Fat tissue containes less water than does
lean tissue, so the amoubt of body water per kilogram of total body weight is less in the
obese person than in the non-obese. For some drugs, alterations in body make up that
accompany obesity require changes in drug dosages.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI
provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for
weight categories that may lead to health problems.
Calculating BMI is one of the best methods for population assessment of overweight
and obesity because calculation requires only height and weightm it is )BMI allows
people to compare their own weight status to that of the general population.
Other methods to measure body fatness include skinfold thickness measurements (with
calipers), underwater weighing, bioelectrical impedance, dual-energy x-ray
absorptiometry (DXA) and isotope dilution. However, these methods are not always
readily available, and they are either expensive or need highly trained personnel.
Furthermore, many of these methods can be difficult to standardize across observers or
machines, complicating comparisons across studies and time periods.
The formula for BMI measurement are as follows:
BMI= Weight (kg)
Height (m2)
BMI = Weight (lb) x 703
Height (in2)
Interpretation of BMI for Adults
For adults 20 years old and older, BMI is interpreted using standard weight status
categories that are the same for all ages for both men and women. For children and
teens, on the other hand, the interpretation of BMI is both age- and sex specific. The
standart weight status categories associated with BMI ranges for adults are shown in
the following table.
BMI WEIGHT STATUS
Below 18.5 Underweight
18.5-24.9 Normal
25.0- 29.9 Overweight
30.0 and above Obese

For and elderly person, a BMI of less than 21 can be sign of malnutrition. BMI in most
people is an indicator of high body fat (this may not be the case for persons who are
especially muscular). In addition to BMI, the NIH also considers waist circumference an
important factor in obesity - related disease. A waist circumference of more than 40
inches in men and more than 35 inches in women indicates an increased risk of obesity-
related diseases in persons who have a BMI of 25 to 35.
For example , here are the weight ranges, the corresponding BMI ranges, and the
weight status categories for a sample height.
Height Weight range BMI Weight status
124 lbs or less Below 18.5 underweight
5’9” 125 lbs to 168 lbs 18.5 to 24.9 Normal
169 lbs to 202 lbs 25.0 to 29.9 Overweight
203 lbs or more 30 or higher Obese
MATERIALS NEEDED
Weighing scale
Height measuring chart

PROCEDURE
1. The height and weight of at least 5 of the members of the family must be
obtained.
2. Body mass indexes must be computed and should be noted on the chart
provided.
3. The computations must be shown.
4. BMI must be interpreted as underweight, normal, overweight or obese.

DATA AND RESULTS:

Subject Height Weight BMI Interpretation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

COMPUTATION:

QUESTIONS:
1. What are the other methods of measuring body fat? How does it differ from
BMI measurement?
 2. Is BMI an accurate indicator of determining body fat? Why or why not?

3. What are the health consequences of having a high BMI?

4. Can you interpret the BMI for adults as the same for that of a child or teen?

5. How can a low or high BMI affect the distribution of the following drugs; indicate if
the dosing should be increased or decreased.
A. Thiopental

B. Aminoglycosides

C. Phenylpropanolamine

D. Amiodarone

E. Atorvastatin