The body mass index (BMI) is a physical measurement used to assess an individual’s total amount of body fat. The BMI was invented by Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet in the 1800s, and consequently is sometimes known as the Quetelet index. The BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms (kg) by your height in metres squared (m2). It is expressed as kg/m2.
The BMI scores give an indirect measure of body fat. Depending on the BMI value calculated you may be underweight, healthy weight, overweight or obese.