THE EFFECT OF STANDARDIZING THE BODY-MASS INDEX FOR RELATIVE SITTING HEIGHT

The body mass index (BMI) has become a universal index of energy nutri tional status in adults even though it is influenced by many factors o ther than energy stores. One of these is variation in height caused by variation in the length of the trunk and legs. Such variations occur between and within populations. In the British population, with a sitt ing height//stature (SH//S) ratio at the mode of population values, ad justment of BMI for SH/S ratio caused BMI to change by 1 kg/m(2) or mo re in 33% of women and 10% of men and by 2 kg/m(2) in 5% of women and 1% of men. The possible effects of shape, as evinced by SH/S ratios sh ould be borne in mind when describing individuals or populations as ov erweight or obese in epidemiological studies and in decisions of clini cal management.