Question

1. If you are weighing someone in order to determine their BMI, should you weigh them with or without shoes? Explain.

2. If you are weighing someone in order to determine their relative VO_2max, should you weigh them with or without shoes? Explain.

3. If you are weighing someone in order to determine their power output on a Margaria Power Test, should you weigh them with or without shoes? Explain.

Answer 1

Answer 1:

During the determination of BMI (Body Mass Index), the person's height and weight are both taken into account. The formula to calculate BMI is:

BMI = Weight(kg)/[Height (m​​​​​​)]2

Wearing of shoes while weighing will give a false reading of weight, the weight noted down will be more than the actual weight of the person which will give wrong BMI reading. Hence, before weighing the shoes has to removed.

Similarly, wearing of shoes while taking height measurements will also give false reading of height as the height noted will be more than the actual height of the person which will give wrong BMI reading. Hence, shoes has to be removed before taking height measurements.