1. What is BMI?

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measure that uses your height and weight to determine if your weight is healthy. 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:

Where:

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

Explanation: The result is then compared to male-specific percentile charts for children and teens.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is a screening tool that can indicate whether a child is underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese. However, it doesn't measure body fat directly.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For accurate results, measurements should be taken with minimal clothing and no shoes.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is children's BMI different from adults?
A: For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific because their body composition varies as they grow.

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

Q3: When should I be concerned about my child's BMI?
A: Consult a healthcare provider if your child's BMI is below 5th percentile or at/above 85th percentile.

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