1. What is BMI-for-age?

BMI-for-age is a measure that takes into account a child's age and sex when assessing their Body Mass Index. For children, BMI is particularly important because their body composition changes as they grow.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The result is then compared to growth charts specific to the child's age, sex, and country standard (UK or Indonesia) to determine the percentile.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation for Children

Details: BMI-for-age helps identify children who are underweight, at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese. Early identification allows for timely intervention.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kg, height in meters, age in years (2-18), select gender and country standard. For accurate results, measurements should be taken with minimal clothing.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is BMI different for children than adults?
A: Children's body composition changes with growth, so BMI must be interpreted relative to other children of the same age and sex.

Q2: What BMI percentile indicates overweight?
A: Typically, ≥85th percentile is overweight and ≥95th is obese, but exact thresholds may vary by country.

Q3: How often should children's BMI be checked?
A: Annual checks are recommended, or more frequently if weight concerns exist.

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.

Q5: Where can I find UK and Indonesia growth charts?
A: UK charts are available from the Royal College of Pediatrics. Indonesia uses WHO growth references adapted for local populations.