Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. It is used to screen for weight-related health problems such as obesity, underweight, and eating disorders.
BMI was developed in the 19th century by Belgian statistician Adolphe Quetelet. It has since become a widely used tool for assessing body weight and health risk. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters.