Body mass index (BMI) is a measure that helps determine if a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. It is calculated using a person’s height and weight. For example, if a person is 5 feet tall and weighs 150 pounds, their BMI would be 27.2.
BMI is a useful tool for assessing health risks associated with weight. It can help identify people who are at risk for developing weight-related health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. BMI was first developed in the 19th century by a Belgian mathematician named Adolphe Quetelet.