1. What is BMI for Children?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to children and teens. For children, BMI is age- and gender-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

Note: For children, the raw BMI value is then compared to age- and gender-specific percentiles from CDC growth charts to determine weight status.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI-for-age is the recommended measure for screening overweight and obesity in children and teens. 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 (2-20), and select gender. For accurate results, measurements should be taken by a healthcare professional.

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 gender.

Q2: What are the BMI percentile categories?
A: Underweight (<5th), Healthy weight (5th-85th), Overweight (85th-95th), Obese (≥95th percentile).

Q3: Is BMI accurate for all children?
A: BMI is a screening tool but doesn't directly measure body fat. Athletic children with high muscle mass may have high BMI without excess fat.

Q4: How often should children's BMI be checked?
A: The AAP recommends BMI screening at least annually as part of routine health supervision.

Q5: Where can I find official growth charts?
A: CDC growth charts are available at: https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/