Which population group is not commonly assessed using BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used tool for estimating body fat based on height and weight; however, it has limitations when applied to certain groups. In the case of children, while BMI is indeed used, it is not as commonly assessed in the same way as adults, primarily due to the fact that children's body composition can vary greatly as they grow and develop.

BMI percentiles are often calculated for children to take into account their age and sex, which is different from how BMI is typically used with adults. This added layer of complexity makes standard BMI assessment less straightforward for children, compared to adult populations or specialized groups such as athletes or individuals with chronic illnesses, where BMI is more frequently utilized.

Athletes, for example, may have a higher muscle mass that can artificially inflate their BMI, so alternative assessments like body fat percentage or lean mass measurements are often preferred. Similarly, chronic illnesses can affect body composition in ways that BMI alone may not reflect accurately. Non-active adults are more likely to be assessed using BMI due to the more consistent relationships between body fat and BMI that apply to sedentary populations.

Thus, the unique factors surrounding the growth and development of children lead to the conclusion that they are not commonly assessed using BMI in the