Body Mass Index (BMI) was developed by the Belgian statistician Dolphe Quetelet in 1835 and is one of the most appropriate ways to measure obesity in men and women.
In fact, BMI is a simple mathematical formula calculated from the ratio of body weight to the square of a person's height.
In this simple way we can see if our body weight is within normal limits. Of course, the BMI index does not take into account key weight factors such as that of our skeletal system or that of our muscles. Nevertheless, it is considered reliable and is internationally recognized.
The classification provided by the BMI index to assess our body weight is the following:
| BMI |
Classification |
| < 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5-25 | Healthy |
| 25-30 | Overweight |
| 30-35 | Obese Class I |
| 35-40 | Obese Class II |
| >40 | Obese Class III |
For example, if a person is 175cm (5.7 foot) tall and weighs 80kg (176 pounds), then his BMI is:
80 / 1.752 = 26.12
Thus, based on the above table, the person is considered as Overweight.