1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Note: For children and teens, BMI is interpreted differently than for adults and is age- and sex-specific.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI provides a simple numeric measure of a person's thickness or thinness, allowing health professionals to discuss weight problems more objectively with their patients.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters. For children, also enter age and gender for proper interpretation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a healthy BMI range?
A: For adults, 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy. For children, consult BMI-for-age growth charts.

Q2: Are there limitations to BMI?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, so athletes may have high BMI without excess fat.

Q3: How often should BMI be checked?
A: For adults, annually is sufficient unless weight changes significantly. For children, at each well-child visit.

Q4: Is BMI different for men and women?
A: The calculation is the same, but healthy ranges may differ slightly. For children, gender-specific charts are used.

Q5: What's the difference between adult and child BMI?
A: Child BMI accounts for normal growth patterns and is compared to percentiles for children of the same age and sex.