1. What is a BMI Calculator?

The Origin of BMI

The Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a measure that has become a household reference for assessing body fat based on height and weight. The origin of BMI traces back to the mid-19th century when a Belgian mathematician and statistician named Adolphe Quetelet developed what he called the “Quetelet Index.” The purpose of this index was to understand the normal distribution of body mass in a population, which forms the basis of what we know today as the BMI.

The standard BMI formula didn’t gain popularity until the 1970s, when researchers recognized its potential for quickly assessing body weight categories in clinical and public health settings. Despite its simplicity, the BMI has become an integral tool in the medical field for initial health assessments and remains a cost-effective method for gauging one’s weight status across most populations.

How BMI is Calculated

At its core, the BMI Calculator is a simple tool that uses an individual’s weight and height to calculate a score, placing them in a category that helps evaluate whether their weight might pose health risks. Here’s how the calculation works:

• BMI = weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m²).
• Alternatively, if using pounds and inches, the formula is: BMI = (weight in pounds / height in inches squared) * 703.

This calculation results in a numerical value that aligns with specific weight…