What is BMI? Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value that indicates a person's weight status. It is an inexpensive and easy-to-use tool used by healthcare professionals, researchers, and public health organizations to identify potential health risks associated with weight status. BMI reflects the amount of body fat a person has and is a key indicator of their health status. Maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce the risk of various health problems, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. History of BMI BMI was first introduced by a Belgian mathematician named Adolphe Quetelet in the early 19th century. He developed the Quetelet Index, which was later renamed the Body Mass Index or BMI. It gained popularity in the mid-20th century when it was adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a standard measure for assessing weight status. BMI was further refined and standardized in the 1980s by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the ...