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 according to CDC guidelines.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The formula calculates body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI screening is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight category, such as underweight, normal or healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a healthy BMI range for children?
A: For children, BMI is interpreted relative to a child's age and sex because body composition varies as children grow.

Q2: How often should children's BMI be measured?
A: The CDC recommends BMI screening at least annually for all children and adolescents.

Q3: What are the limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't directly measure body fat and doesn't account for muscle mass, bone density, overall body composition.

Q4: Where can I find CDC growth charts?
A: CDC growth charts are available at https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/

Q5: How is BMI different for children vs adults?
A: For children, BMI is plotted on growth charts to determine a percentile ranking based on age and sex.