Body Mass Index (BMI) is an internationally used indicator for evaluating obesity using height and weight. It was developed by Belgian statistician Adolphe Quetelet in 1832 and is now used by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a standard method for evaluating obesity in adults.

• Quick health status assessment through simple calculation
• Provides globally standardized criteria
• Useful tool for predicting health risks

BMI is calculated by dividing weight by the square of height. The calculation formula differs depending on the unit.

Example: Person with height 175cm and weight 70kg, BMI = 70 ÷ (1.75)² = 22.9

BMI is a useful tool but has some limitations:

• Does not distinguish between muscle mass and body fat (athletes may have high BMI)
• Does not adequately reflect differences by age, gender, and race
• Does not consider body fat distribution (abdominal obesity, etc.)
• May not be suitable for pregnant women, growing children, and elderly