Body mass index (BMI) is a measure that estimates body fat based on height and weight. For females, the formula for calculating BMI is: BMI = (weight in kilograms) / (height in meters).
BMI is used to assess whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. It is a simple and inexpensive way to screen for weight-related health risks. BMI was first developed in the 19th century by Belgian statistician Adolphe Quetelet. It was originally designed to compare the body weights of different populations.