1. What is BMI for Children?

Body Mass Index (BMI) for children is a measure that adjusts weight for height. Unlike adults, children's BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. It's used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula adjusted for pediatric interpretation:

Where:

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

Note: For children, the numeric BMI value must be plotted on a sex-specific BMI-for-age growth chart to determine the percentile.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI-for-age is the recommended indicator for screening overweight and obesity in children aged 2 years and older. It helps identify potential weight problems that may affect health.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, age in years (2-20), and select gender. For accurate results, measurements should be taken with minimal clothing and no shoes.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: What are the BMI categories for children?
A: Categories are based on percentiles: Underweight (<5th), Healthy weight (5th-85th), Overweight (85th-95th), Obese (≥95th).

Q3: When should I be concerned about my child's BMI?
A: Consult a pediatrician if your child is below 5th percentile or above 85th percentile, or if there are sudden changes in BMI.

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

Q5: Where can I find official growth charts?
A: CDC growth charts are available online and are used by most healthcare providers for BMI-for-age assessment.