BMI, or body mass index, is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. Simply put, it helps determine whether someone is underweight, normal, overweight, or obese.
Calculating BMI is crucial for understanding one’s health status and risk of chronic diseases. It plays a vital role in clinical settings, nutritional assessments, and epidemiological studies. The concept was first introduced in the 19th century, when Belgian statistician Adolphe Quetelet developed the Quetelet Index, which later evolved into BMI.