title: A major error in nomograms for estimating body mass index.
abstract: The Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition and Health and Diet and Health include a nomogram for determining body mass index (BMI, in kg/m2) when the subject's weight and height are known. I regret to report that the BMI in nomograms in these books are highly inaccurate when compared with direct calculations of BMI. Anyone wishing to use a nomogram for the rapid estimation of BMI should be cautioned against relying on the versions that appear in these books.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kahn
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans