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:

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

Note: For children, the calculated BMI should be plotted on a BMI-for-age growth chart to determine the percentile.

3. Importance of BMI for Children

Details: BMI is an important screening tool for identifying possible weight problems in children. It can help identify underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a healthy BMI for children?
A: Healthy BMI ranges for children are age and gender specific. A child's BMI is shown as a percentile compared with other children of the same age and gender.

Q2: How often should I measure my child's BMI?
A: It's recommended to track your child's BMI annually or as advised by your healthcare provider.

Q3: What are the BMI categories for children?
A: Underweight (less than 5th percentile), Healthy weight (5th to less than 85th percentile), Overweight (85th to less than 95th percentile), Obese (equal to or greater than 95th percentile).

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI for children?
A: BMI doesn't directly measure body fat and may not account for differences in muscle mass or body composition. It should be used as a screening tool, not a diagnostic tool.

Q5: Where can I find BMI-for-age growth charts?
A: The CDC provides standard BMI-for-age growth charts that can be used to plot your child's BMI percentile.