[Clinical significance of the quantification of obesity. The Quetelet index and its use].

The degree of obesity, ie. the quantity of excessive stored adipose tissue, affects substantially morbidity and mortality on cardiovascular, metabolic, and other diseases. While the quantity of an adipose tissue is practically impossible to determine, it is necessary to use the body weight, adjusted for the stature. The Quetelet's index (body mass index, BMI) is the best one from height-weight indices. Values of BMI define categories of normal weight, overweight, and obesity, which have different importance of their health implications and therapeutical approaches.