Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. It is an inexpensive and easy screening method for weight category-“underweight”, “normal weight”, “overweight”, and “obese”.
BMI was developed in the early 19th century by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian mathematician, astronomer, and sociologist. Quetelet devised the formula for BMI, which is still used today. BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters. The resulting number is used to categorize a person as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.