1. What is Pediatric BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to children and teens. For children, 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:

The result is then compared to CDC growth charts to determine the percentile for the child's age and gender.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI-for-age is the recommended measure for screening overweight and obesity in children and teens. It's a reliable indicator of body fatness for most children.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, and exact age in years. 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 do the percentiles mean?
A: Underweight (<5th), Healthy weight (5th-85th), Overweight (85th-95th), Obese (≥95th).

Q3: Is BMI accurate for all children?
A: BMI is a screening tool but doesn't directly measure body fat. Very muscular children may have high BMI without excess fat.

Q4: What age range is this calculator for?
A: This calculator is for children and teens aged 2-20 years.

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