For example, a child may have a high BMI for their age and sex, but to determine if excess fat is a problem, a health care provider would need to perform further assessments. Top of Page How is BMI used with children and teens?įor children and teens, BMI is not a diagnostic tool and is used to screen for potential weight and health-related issues.

The CDC BMI-for-age growth charts are available at: CDC Growth Charts: United States. The following is an example of how sample BMI numbers would be interpreted for a 10-year-old boy. Weight Status Categoryĥth percentile to less than the 85 th percentileĮqual to or greater than the 95 th percentile BMI-for-age weight status categories and the corresponding percentiles were based on expert committee recommendations and are shown in the following table. The BMI-for-age percentile growth charts are the most commonly used indicator to measure the size and growth patterns of children and teens in the United States. Because weight and height change during growth and development, as does their relation to body fatness, a child’s BMI must be interpreted relative to other children of the same sex and age.īMI-for-age – Boys Growth Chart īMI-for-age – Girls Growth Chart who participated in national surveys that were conducted from 1963-65 to 1988-94 4. These percentiles express a child’s BMI relative to children in the U.S. What is a BMI percentile and how is it interpreted?Īfter BMI is calculated for children and teens, it is expressed as a percentile which can be obtained from either a graph or a percentile calculator (see links below). The BMI number is calculated using standard formulas. Use the Child and Teen BMI Calculator to calculate BMI.Refer to Measuring Children’s Height and Weight Accurately At Home for guidance. In general, BMI is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems.Ĭhild & Teen BMI Calculator How is BMI calculated for children and teens?Ĭalculating BMI using the BMI Percentile Calculator involves the following steps: BMI can be considered an alternative to direct measures of body fat. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI is correlated with more direct measures of body fat, such as skinfold thickness measurements, bioelectrical impedance, densitometry (underwater weighing), dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and other methods 1,2,3. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. In children, a high amount of body fat can lead to weight-related diseases and other health issues and being underweight can also put one at risk for health issues.Ī high BMI can be an indicator of high body fatness. What are the health consequences of obesity during childhood?īody Mass Index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.My two children have the same BMI values, but one is considered obese and the other is not.Can I determine if my child or teen is obese by using an adult BMI calculator?.How can I tell if my child is overweight or obese?.What are the BMI trends for children and teens in the United States?.Why can’t healthy weight ranges be provided for children and teens?.Is BMI interpreted the same way for children and teens as it is for adults?.How is BMI used with children and teens?.What is a BMI percentile and how is it interpreted?.How is BMI calculated for children and teens?.

Bmi children calculator