What is the formula used to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI)?

The formula for calculating Body Mass Index (BMI) is based on a ratio of a person's weight to the square of their height. The standard formulas used vary depending on the measurement units employed.

When weight is measured in pounds (lb) and height in inches (in), the formula is:

[BMI = \frac{\text{weight in pounds}}{(\text{height in inches})^2} \times 703.]

This conversion factor of 703 is used to adjust the calculation to ensure that the BMI is expressed in metric units, where kg/m² is the standard BMI measurement.

For metric measurements, where weight is in kilograms (kg) and height is in meters (m), the formula simplifies to:

[BMI = \frac{\text{weight in kg}}{(\text{height in meters})^2}.]

Since the question asks about options detailing the calculations for BMI in both systems, the correct answer encompasses both methods. Thus, it includes the formula for calculating BMI using pounds and inches as well as the metric version, which confirms the validity of the chosen answer. Both formulas effectively provide the same information but through different measurement systems. This highlights the versatility of the BMI computation across different units of measurement.