1. What is BMI for Teens?

BMI-for-age is a measure that accounts for a child's age and sex when assessing weight status. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. It's calculated the same way as adult BMI but interpreted differently.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Note: While the calculation is the same for all ages, interpretation for teens requires CDC growth charts that consider age and gender.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI-for-age is the recommended measure for screening overweight and obesity in children and teens. It's used to identify potential weight problems that might lead to health issues.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, and exact age (2-19 years). For accurate results, measurements should be taken with minimal clothing and no shoes.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

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

Q3: How often should teens have BMI calculated?
A: The AAP recommends BMI screening at least annually as part of routine health supervision.

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

Q5: Where can I find CDC growth charts?
A: CDC growth charts are available at https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/