1. What is BMI-for-age?

BMI-for-age is a measure that takes into account a child's age and sex when assessing their Body Mass Index. For children, BMI is interpreted relative to other children of the same age and sex, rather than using the standard adult categories.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The result is then compared to growth charts for children of the same age and sex to determine the percentile.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation for Children

Details: BMI-for-age is the recommended measure for screening overweight and obesity in children aged 2-18 years. 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 (2-18), and select gender. For accurate results, measurements should be taken with minimal clothing and no shoes.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What do the BMI percentiles mean?
A: Below 5th percentile = underweight; 5th to 85th = healthy weight; 85th to 95th = overweight; 95th and above = obese.

Q2: Why is BMI interpreted differently for children?
A: Children's body composition varies by age and sex as they grow, so adult BMI categories don't apply.

Q3: How often should children's BMI be checked?
A: The NHS recommends annual checks for all children aged 2-18 as part of routine health assessments.

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI for children?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle mass. Very muscular children may have high BMI without excess fat.

Q5: Where can I find growth charts to interpret the results?
A: The NHS provides gender-specific BMI-for-age growth charts for children aged 2-18 years.