Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)Clinical Workflow and Patient IntakeHard
A patient weighs 180 pounds and is 5 feet 9 inches tall. Using the standard imperial BMI formula, what is this patient's BMI (rounded to the nearest tenth)?
- A24.9
- B26.6
- C28.3
- D22.4
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. 26.6
BMI (imperial) = (weight in pounds × 703) ÷ (height in inches)². Height = 5'9" = 69 inches, so 69² = 4,761. Then (180 × 703) ÷ 4,761 = 126,540 ÷ 4,761 ≈ 26.6, which falls in the overweight category.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Incorrect; this is the upper limit of normal weight, not this patient's BMI.
- C. Incorrect; this value is too high based on the calculation.
- D. Incorrect; this value is too low based on the calculation.
BMI Calculation (Imperial)
Body Mass Index using imperial units is calculated as (weight in pounds × 703) divided by (height in inches squared).
- Formula: (lb × 703) / in²
- BMI 18.5-24.9 = normal weight
- BMI 25-29.9 = overweight
Memory trick: Multiply by 703, divide by height squared