1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy. The NHS uses adjusted BMI ranges for children and seniors to account for different body compositions at different life stages.

2. How Does the NHS BMI Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula with adjusted interpretations:

For Children (2-18 years): Uses age-adjusted percentiles based on growth charts

For Seniors (65+ years): Uses slightly higher healthy ranges to account for age-related changes

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI helps identify potential weight problems but should be interpreted alongside other measurements like waist circumference and overall health assessment.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Measure height without shoes and weight in light clothing. For children, measurements should be taken regularly to track growth patterns.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is BMI accurate for athletes?
A: BMI may overestimate body fat in muscular individuals as it doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat.

Q2: Why different ranges for seniors?
A: Older adults often have less muscle mass, so slightly higher BMI ranges may be healthier.

Q3: How often should children's BMI be checked?
A: NHS recommends annual checks as part of routine health assessments.

Q4: What if my child's BMI is high?
A: Consult your GP who may refer to growth charts and consider other factors like puberty stage.

Q5: Are there better measures than BMI?
A: While useful for populations, waist-to-height ratio or body composition tests may be better for individuals.