1. What is BMI for Children?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure that adjusts body weight for height. For children, BMI is age and sex-specific and is presented as a percentile relative to Australian growth charts.

2. How BMI is Calculated

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The result is compared to age and gender-specific percentiles from Australian growth standards.

3. Australian Growth Charts

Details: Australian children's BMI percentiles are based on WHO growth standards for children aged 0-5 years and CDC growth charts for children aged 5-18 years.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Measure height without shoes and weight with minimal clothing. Use the print function to generate a percentile chart for tracking growth over time.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What BMI percentile is considered healthy?
A: Generally, 5th to 85th percentile is healthy weight, 85th-95th is overweight, and ≥95th is obese.

Q2: How often should children's BMI be checked?
A: Annually is recommended, or more frequently if tracking growth concerns.

Q3: Are there limitations to BMI for children?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, so athletic children may show higher percentiles.

Q4: Where can I get official Australian growth charts?
A: From the Australian Government Department of Health or WHO websites.

Q5: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It provides a screening tool but should be interpreted by a healthcare professional in clinical context.