1. What is BMI for Children?

BMI (Body Mass Index) for children is a measure that adjusts for age and sex, unlike adult BMI. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. In Canada, growth charts are used to interpret BMI values for children.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Note: For children, the raw BMI value must be plotted on age- and sex-specific growth charts to determine the percentile.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI-for-age is the recommended measure for screening overweight and obesity in children aged 2-18 years. It helps identify potential weight problems that may lead to health issues.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, age in years (2-18), and select gender. For accurate results, measurements should be taken with minimal clothing and no shoes.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is children's BMI different from adults?
A: Children's BMI is interpreted relative to other children of the same age and sex using percentile charts, rather than fixed categories.

Q2: What do the percentile ranges mean?
A: Underweight (<5th), Healthy weight (5th-85th), Overweight (85th-95th), Obese (≥95th percentile).

Q3: When should I be concerned about my child's BMI?
A: Consult a healthcare provider if your child is below 5th or above 85th percentile, or if there are sudden changes.

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI for children?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle mass. Athletic children may have high BMI without excess fat.

Q5: Where can I find Canadian growth charts?
A: Health Canada provides growth charts at canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/growth-charts-tables.html