Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of health based on weight and height. It’s used to screen for weight-related health problems like obesity and malnutrition. A high BMI can increase the risk for chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. A low BMI can also be a sign of malnutrition or other health concerns.
BMI was developed in the 1970s by a Belgian statistician named Adolphe Quetelet. It was originally called the Quetelet index but was later renamed to body mass index. BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters. The resulting number is a person’s BMI.