1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity in adults and children.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: BMI provides a simple numeric measure of a person's thickness or thinness, allowing health professionals to discuss weight problems more objectively with their patients.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is an inexpensive and easy screening method for weight category—underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. For children, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0). For Canadian children, the results should be plotted on appropriate growth charts.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why calculate BMI for children?
A: BMI is an important screening tool for potential weight problems in children, but it's not a diagnostic tool. For children, BMI is age- and sex-specific.

Q2: What are healthy BMI ranges for children?
A: Unlike adults, BMI categories for children are based on percentile ranges compared to children of the same age and sex.

Q3: How accurate is BMI for children?
A: BMI is a good screening tool but doesn't measure body fat directly. Some muscular children may have a high BMI without being overweight.

Q4: When should BMI be measured for children?
A: Regular BMI measurements are recommended as part of routine child health checkups to track growth patterns over time.

Q5: Does this calculator account for age and sex differences?
A: This calculator provides raw BMI values. For Canadian children, these values should be interpreted using age- and sex-specific growth charts.