1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women and children. 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
• \( height \) — Height in meters (converted from cm)

Note: For children, the BMI value is plotted on growth charts to determine the BMI-for-age percentile.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation for Children

Details: BMI is an important screening tool for potential weight problems in children. Pediatricians use BMI along with growth charts to track a child's growth pattern over time.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in centimeters, age in years (2-20), and select gender. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0, age between 2-20).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is BMI different for children 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 are healthy BMI ranges for children?
A: Healthy ranges vary by age and gender. Generally, BMI between the 5th and 85th percentile is considered healthy weight.

Q3: When should I be concerned about my child's BMI?
A: Consult a pediatrician if your child's BMI is below 5th percentile (underweight) or above 85th percentile (overweight).

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI for children?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, so very muscular children might have high BMI without excess fat.

Q5: How often should my child's BMI be checked?
A: Pediatricians typically check BMI at annual well-child visits starting at age 2.