Body Mass Index (BMI) range for overweight is?

Appeared in: ISRO- 2016

Explanation

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the BMI range for overweight adults is 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m².
This category is also referred to as 'pre-obese' and indicates an increased risk of developing comorbidities like hypertension and diabetes.
BMI is a standardized, inexpensive, and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems.
It is calculated as a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of the person's height in meters (kg/m²).

Option A: A BMI of 30 or above is classified as Obesity (starting with Class I), which represents a higher level of health risk than being overweight.
Option B: A BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m² is considered the normal or healthy weight range.
Option C: This range reflects modified BMI cut-offs for certain Asian populations, where a BMI of 23 is often considered the threshold for being overweight. It is not the standard WHO global classification.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain WHO classification of Body Mass Index (BMI) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses frequently use BMI as a quick screening tool to assess a patient's nutritional status and risk for chronic diseases like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
It is crucial to remember that BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnostic one. It does not differentiate between fat and muscle mass.
Patient education by nurses on maintaining a healthy BMI is a key component of preventive healthcare and managing chronic conditions.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Body Mass Index (BMI) range for overweight'.
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of standard medical classifications.
Recall the World Health Organization (WHO) categories for BMI.
Systematically evaluate each option against the WHO standards. A BMI 'Above 30' is obese, and '18.5-24.9' is normal.
The range '25.0-29.9' directly corresponds to the 'overweight' or 'pre-obese' category, making it the correct choice.
Recognize that the range '22.9-27.9' relates to specific population guidelines (e.g., for Asian populations) but is not the general standard asked for in the question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 69-71

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 875-877

Practise the full ISRO- 2016

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.