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The Ponderal Index (PI) divides weight by height cubed, making it more scale-independent than BMI for very tall or short individuals. Widely used in neonatal medicine for growth assessment.
Fórmula
PI = Weight (g) / (Length (cm)^3) × 100; or PI = Weight (kg) / (Height (m)^3); Normal: 2.2–3.6; < 2.2 = thin; > 3.6 = stocky
- Weight
- Body weight (kg (or grams for infants))
- Length
- Length / height (cm (or meters))
- PI
- Ponderal index (Unitless (or g/cm³))
Guía paso a paso
- 1PI = Weight (kg) / Height (m)³
- 2Normal adult range: 11–14 kg/m³
- 3Used in neonates to assess intrauterine growth restriction
- 4More appropriate than BMI at extremes of height
Ejemplos resueltos
Entrada
Weight 68 kg, height 1.72 m
Resultado
PI = 68 / 5.088 = 13.4 kg/m³ (Normal)
Preguntas frecuentes
How does PI differ from BMI?
BMI uses height squared; PI uses height cubed. PI more sensitive to changes in weight relative to height. PI better for very short people (children, dwarfism); BMI for adults.
Why is PI useful for newborns?
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) detection. Low PI = thin baby (poor nutrition in womb). Normal PI but low weight = prematurity. Helps distinguish causes of low birth weight.
What's a normal newborn PI?
Newborns: 2.2–3.0 typical. Low (< 2.0) suggests IUGR. High (> 3.5) suggests well-nourished larger baby. Track over first year; gradually lowers as child grows taller.
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