1. What is BMI for Children?

BMI for children and teens is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. Unlike adults, children's body composition varies as they age and differs between boys and girls. The CDC BMI-for-age growth charts take these factors into account.

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 BMI number is plotted on the CDC BMI-for-age growth charts to determine the corresponding percentile.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI-for-age is the recommended screening tool for overweight and obesity in children aged 2-20 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 (2-20), and select gender. For accurate results, measurements should be taken using standardized methods.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is BMI different for children than adults?
A: Children's body composition changes as they grow, and differs between boys and girls. BMI-for-age accounts for these normal variations.

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

Q3: How often should children's BMI be checked?
A: The AAP recommends BMI screening annually for all children aged 2 years and older.

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI for children?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle mass. Athletic children may have high BMI due to muscle rather than fat.

Q5: Where can I find the official CDC growth charts?
A: CDC growth charts are available on the CDC website (www.cdc.gov/growthcharts).