Question

What value of BMI is considered "lethal" in men?

• A. 12
• B. 18
• C. 13
• D. 14

Hint:

Men cannot survive below this BMI; women tolerate down to about 11.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Body mass index (BMI) is an index of weight for height, calculated as \[BMI = \frac{\text{Weight (kg)}}{[\text{Height (m)}]^2}\] and is used to classify underweight, normal, overweight and obesity. Step 2: At the severe end of undernutrition there is a lower limit below which survival is essentially impossible. In men, a BMI of 13 kg/m2 is taken as the "lethal" lower limit. Step 3: Women tolerate extreme starvation slightly better, with a lethal lower limit of around 11 kg/m2, owing to a higher proportion of body fat reserves. Step 4: Among the options, 13 is the recognised lethal BMI for men, so option (c) is correct. Values of 12 and 14 are close but the standard quoted figure is 13.