Explain what bmi is and why it is important in evaluating overall body health. list the pros and cons of using this method of determine body composition.

Body mass index, or BMI, is an easy-to-calculate measure of obesity based on the ratio of your weight and your height. It's convenient to use because it doesn't require expensive equipment or a clinical setting to measure -- just knowledge of your height and weight -- and it's useful for most people to get a general idea of your disease risk.

Because BMI is simply a measure of your weight versus your height, it doesn't take into account where that weight comes from -- lean tissue or fat. For this reason, you might have a normal "healthy" weight, according to your BMI, but still face health risks due to excess body fat.