Body mass index (BMI) is a measure that calculates and classifies an individual’s weight in relation to height, and has become a standard screening tool used by healthcare professionals to indicate possible weight-related health problems.
Developed by Adolphe Quetelet in the mid-1800s, BMI makes use of a person’s weight and height, along with their age, to create a numerical value that falls into different categories: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese.