1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to children and adults. 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 Stanford growth charts to determine the child's percentile for their age and gender.

3. Importance of BMI for Children

Details: Tracking BMI-for-age helps identify children who are underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese. This screening tool can help prevent both childhood obesity and eating disorders.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, and age in years (2-20 years). For most accurate results, measure height without shoes and weight with minimal clothing.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What do the percentiles mean?
A: Percentiles compare a child's BMI to others of the same age and gender. Below 5th: underweight; 5th-85th: healthy weight; 85th-95th: overweight; Above 95th: obese.

Q2: Why use Stanford charts specifically?
A: Stanford growth charts are widely recognized and provide detailed percentile information for children's BMI.

Q3: How often should children's BMI be checked?
A: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends BMI screening annually from age 2.

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

Q5: What if my child is below the 5th percentile?
A: Consult a pediatrician to evaluate for potential undernutrition or growth issues.