Body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on height and weight, can indicate a person’s risk for certain health issues. Measuring BMI at home is straightforward and requires only a few simple steps.
BMI is a useful tool for assessing overall health, including the risk of obesity-related diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. It was first developed in the 19th century by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian mathematician and astronomer.