1. What is BMI for Children and Teens?

For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. Unlike adults, children's body fatness changes with age and differs between boys and girls, so CDC growth charts must be used to interpret the BMI result.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Note: The result must be plotted on CDC growth charts to determine the BMI percentile for age and sex.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI-for-age is the recommended measure for screening overweight and obesity in children and teens. 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 (2-19), and select gender. For accurate results, measurements should be taken with proper technique.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is BMI interpreted differently for children?
A: Children's body composition varies by age and sex as they grow, so BMI must be compared against growth charts specific to their age and sex.

Q2: What are the CDC BMI categories for children?
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 American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual BMI screening 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, so athletic children may have high BMI without excess fat. Other assessments may be needed.

Q5: Where can I find CDC growth charts?
A: CDC growth charts are available on the CDC website and should be used by healthcare providers to interpret BMI-for-age.