1. What is BMI for Kids?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure that adjusts body weight for height. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. The NSW Health Portal provides growth charts to assess a child's BMI percentile.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The result is compared to age- and sex-specific percentiles based on NSW Health growth standards.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI-for-age is the recommended measure for screening overweight and obesity in children aged 2-18 years. It helps identify potential weight problems that may lead to health issues.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kg, height in meters, age in years (2-18), and select gender. For accurate results, measurements should be taken with minimal clothing and no shoes.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use BMI-for-age instead of regular BMI?
A: Children's body composition varies as they grow, so BMI must be interpreted relative to other children of the same age and sex.

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

Q3: When should I be concerned about my child's BMI?
A: Consult a healthcare provider if your child is below 5th or above 85th percentile, or if there are sudden changes in BMI.

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, so athletic children may have high BMI without excess fat.

Q5: Where can I find official NSW growth charts?
A: The NSW Health website provides detailed growth charts for tracking child development.