Calculating body mass index (BMI) is a common way to estimate body fat. It’s a simple calculation that uses your height and weight. BMI can be used to screen for weight-related health problems such as obesity.
BMI was developed in the 19th century by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian mathematician and astronomer. Quetelet’s original formula for BMI was based on the assumption that the average person is of normal weight. However, the formula has been revised over the years to account for changes in the average weight of the population.