1. What is BMI?

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

For children and adolescents, the BMI value is plotted on CDC growth charts to determine the corresponding percentile.

3. Importance of BMI Percentiles

Details: BMI percentiles are the most commonly used indicator to assess the size and growth patterns of children and teens. They allow comparison with children of the same sex and age.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, age in years (1-20), and select gender. The calculator will compute BMI and estimate the percentile based on growth charts.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: Why use percentiles instead of fixed BMI values for children?
A: Children's body composition changes as they grow, so percentiles account for normal growth patterns.

Q3: How often should children's BMI be checked?
A: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends BMI screening annually from age 2.

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI?
A: BMI doesn't directly measure body fat and may misclassify muscular individuals. It's a screening tool, not a diagnostic.

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