Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. It can be used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.
BMI was developed in the 1970s by Ancel Keys, a physiologist at the University of Minnesota. It is now used by healthcare professionals around the world to assess weight status. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters.