Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. It is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems but may not diagnose body fatness or health risk. BMI categories are underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity.
BMI was developed in the 19th century by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian scientist and statistician. Originally known as the Quetelet Index, it was popularized in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. BMI is a simple and inexpensive way to assess an individual’s weight status. It can be calculated using the following formula: