1. What is BMI-for-age?

BMI-for-age is a measure that accounts for a child's age and sex when assessing their weight status. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. The CDC growth charts are used to determine the corresponding BMI-for-age percentile.

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

3. Importance of BMI Calculation for Children

Details: BMI-for-age is the recommended measure for screening overweight and obesity in children aged 2-19 years. It helps identify potential weight problems that may lead to health issues.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kg, 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 interpreted differently for children?
A: Children's body composition varies as they grow, and between boys and girls. BMI-for-age accounts for these differences.

Q2: What are the BMI percentile categories?
A: Underweight (<5th), Healthy weight (5th-85th), Overweight (85th-95th), Obese (≥95th).

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-age?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle mass. Athletic children may have high BMI without excess fat.

Q5: Where can I find CDC growth charts?
A: CDC growth charts are available on the CDC website for clinical use and interpretation.