Question

What should the value of BMI be to be considered as 'lethal' in men?

• A. 12
• B. 18
• C. 13
• D. 14

Hint:

The lowest survivable BMI in men is around 13; women tolerate lower.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Body mass index (BMI) is an index of weight for height, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in metres: \(BMI = \dfrac{\text{weight (kg)}}{\text{height}^2 \, (\text{m}^2)}\). It is used to classify underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity.
Step 2: At the lower extreme, a BMI of about 13 is regarded as the lethal lower limit for survival in men. Below this level the body fat and muscle reserves are insufficient to sustain life. Therefore the lethal BMI value in men is 13.
Step 3: Why the others are wrong. A BMI of 18 (more precisely below 18.5) marks underweight, not the lethal limit. A BMI of 12 is below the quoted male lethal figure and is closer to the limit described for women, who can survive at lower values (around 11). A BMI of 14 is above the lethal threshold for men.