The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight, calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of the height in meters. The US Navy has developed a specific formula for calculating BMI, which is used to assess the health and fitness of its personnel.
BMI is an important metric because it can help identify individuals who are overweight or underweight. It is also used to track changes in weight over time. Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. The US Navy’s BMI calculation method was developed in the 1970s and has been updated several times since then.