Body mass index (BMI) is a statistical measure that provides insight into body weight in relation to height, and is frequently used to assess overall health status and the potential risk of developing certain diseases. For instance, a BMI of 25 or higher may indicate overweight or obesity.
In relevance to health and nutrition, BMI has become an essential biometric tool. It supports the identification of individuals with excessive body weight or low body mass. Historically, BMI’s roots can be traced back to the 19th century, with Adolphe Quetelet’s work on social physics.