What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms (or pounds) divided by the square of height in meters (or feet). A high BMI can indicate high body fatness. BMI screens for weight categories that may lead to health problems, but it does not diagnose the body fatness or health of an individual.
Why BMI Checks Matter for Your Health
In the United States, BMI is used as a common screening tool to identify whether adults are at a healthy weight for their height. Maintaining a BMI within the "Normal" range is associated with a lower risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.