1. What is BMI for Children?

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 CDC and NSW health guidelines use BMI percentiles to classify weight status.

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 ranking based on 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 helps identify potential weight problems that may lead to health issues.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, and age in years (2-18 years). The calculator will provide the BMI value and percentile category based on CDC growth standards.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use BMI-for-age for children?
A: Because children's body composition varies as they grow, 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: How often should children's BMI be checked?
A: The NSW Health recommends annual BMI assessments for children aged 2-18 years.

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

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