Determining your Body Mass Index (BMI) for South Africa involves calculating a ratio of weight to height, assessing an individual’s weight status and potential health risks. For instance, a person weighing 70 kilograms and standing 1.75 meters tall would have a BMI of 22.8, indicating a healthy weight range.
Calculating your BMI is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It provides insight into weight status, guides weight loss or gain plans, and helps prevent obesity-related illnesses. The concept of BMI was first introduced in the 19th century by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian statistician and astronomer, who developed the Quetelet Index, the precursor to the modern BMI.