BMI

Definition	:	Body Mass Index
Category	:	Medical » Tests
Country/Region	:	Worldwide
Popularity	:

What does BMI mean?

Body Mass Index (BMI) or Quetelet Index, is a simple index of weight-for-height which shows whether people have the right weight for their height. BMI is defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres (kg/m2). BMI was invented by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian astronomer, mathematician, statistician and sociologist. BMI is commonly used to classify underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity in adults.

For example, an adult who weighs 65kg and whose height is 1.72m will have a BMI of 22.
Calculation:
BMI = 65 kg / (1.72 x 1.72) = 65 / 2.96 = 22