1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. 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 BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The formula calculates body mass per unit of height squared, providing a standardized measurement for weight categories.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI screening is an important tool for identifying possible weight problems in children and adolescents. It provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most children and teens.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0). For children, results should be compared to age- and sex-specific growth charts.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is BMI different for children?
A: For children, BMI is age- and sex-specific because their body composition varies as they age and differs between boys and girls.

Q2: What are healthy BMI ranges for children?
A: Healthy ranges vary by age and sex. Results should be plotted on CDC growth charts to determine the BMI percentile.

Q3: When should BMI be measured?
A: Regular BMI measurements are recommended as part of routine child health assessments to track growth patterns.

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI?
A: BMI doesn't directly measure body fat and may misclassify muscular individuals. It's one of many tools for assessing weight status.

Q5: Should BMI be the only measure of healthy weight?
A: No, other factors like growth patterns, diet, physical activity, and family history should also be considered.