Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. It is used to categorize individuals according to weight status and is a widely used screening tool for assessing malnutrition or overweight/obesity. The BMI calculation is a simple and inexpensive way to assess one’s health and track weight loss or weight gain progress.
It has been widely used since its development in the 19th century by Adolphe Quetelet, also known as the Quetelet Index. Quetelet recognized the need for a standardized way to measure obesity and developed the BMI equation, which is still used today.