1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adults and children. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

• \( weight \) — Weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( height \) — Height in meters (m)

Note: For children and teens, BMI is interpreted using age- and sex-specific percentiles rather than the adult categories.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is a screening tool to identify possible weight problems in children. However, it is not a diagnostic tool. A healthcare professional would need to perform further assessments to determine if excess fat is a problem.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, age in years (2-19), and select gender. For accurate results, measurements should be taken with minimal clothing and no shoes.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is BMI different for children than adults?
A: Children's body composition varies as they grow, so BMI must be compared against growth charts specific to their age and sex.

Q2: What are the BMI categories for children?
A: Canadian guidelines use percentiles: Underweight (<5th), Healthy weight (5th-85th), Overweight (85th-97th), Obese (>97th).

Q3: When should I be concerned about my child's BMI?
A: Consult a healthcare provider if your child's BMI is below the 5th percentile or above the 85th percentile for their age and sex.

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI for children?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, so athletic children may have high BMI without excess fat. It's just one measure of health.

Q5: Where can I find Canadian growth charts?
A: Health Canada provides growth charts based on WHO standards at canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/nutrition-labelling/health-claims/growth-charts.html