This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. So, in case of abnormal child’s BMI value for their age and sex a health care provider would need to perform further assessments, including skin-fold thickness measurements, evaluations of diet, physical activity, family history, and other appropriate health screenings.

Like any other BMI for kids calculator our online calculator is not a diagnostic tool and can be used only to screen for potential weight and health-related issues. The clinical growth charts for boys and girls of ages 2 to 20 years can be found on the CDC website.Īfter the BMI value is calculated, our BMI calculator for children and teens expresses it as a percentile which is obtained from the data table of the CDC BMI-for-age charts. Overweight – BMI between 85th and 95th percentiles.īelow is presented a typical BMI-for-age graph.

Normal weight – BMI between 5th and 85th percentile.

Underweight – BMI below the 5th percentile.

The BMI-for-age weight categories are based on recommendations from an expert committee organized by the American Medical Association (AMA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Human Resources Services Administration (HRSA), and defined as follows: In terms of weight, higher percentile values correspond to higher weight categories, while lower percentile values correspond to lower weight categories. So, if a child is, say, in the 65th percentile, that would mean that he or she is higher in terms of BMI than 65 percent of all children of that sex and age group. Instead of comparison against fixed thresholds for underweight and overweight, the BMI is compared against the percentiles for children of the same sex and age. BMI for children is calculated in the same way as for adults, but then it compared to typical values for other children of the same age. Unlike adults for whom a BMI of 18.5 to 25 is considered normal and corresponds to healthy weight, children require a different approach to weight evaluation given that their bodies change so rapidly. The BMI is defined as the body mass of a person divided by the square of the person’s height, and is commonly expressed in units of kg/m 2, resulting from mass in kilograms and height in meters. If you're concerned that your child may be gaining or losing weight too fast, talk to your doctor.The Body Mass Index (BMI) is known to be used as a screening tool to identify possible weight problems in children. While BMI is an important indicator of healthy growth and development, BMI is not a perfect measure of body fat. Any one measurement, taken out of context, can give you the wrong impression of your child's growth. It's important to look at the BMI as a trend instead of focusing on individual numbers.

Obese: BMI is at or above the 95th percentile for age, gender, and height.

Overweight: BMI is at or above the 85th percentile but less than the 95th percentile for age, gender, and height.

Healthy weight: BMI is equal to or greater than the 5th percentile and less than the 85th percentile for age, gender, and height.

Underweight: BMI is below the 5th percentile age, gender, and height.

The categories that describe a person's weight are: Your doctor can help you figure out whether this weight gain is a normal part of development or whether it's something to be concerned about. It's common for kids to gain weight quickly - and see their BMI go up - during puberty. And a kid with a small frame may have a normal BMI but still can have too much body fat.īMI is less accurate during puberty. Kids can have a high BMI if they have a large frame or a lot of muscle, not excess fat. For example, if a child has a BMI in the 60th percentile, 60% of the kids of the same gender and age who were measured had a lower BMI.īMI is not a direct measure of body fat. What Do the Figures Mean?īMI percentiles show how a child's measurements compare with others the same gender and age. Over several visits, the doctor is able to track your child's growth pattern.Īlthough not a perfect measure of body fat, BMI helps identify children who are gaining weight too slowly or too quickly. Because BMI changes with age, doctors plot children's BMI measurements on standard gender-specific growth charts. Starting when your child is 2 years old, the doctor will determine BMI at all routine checkups. But it's also important to talk to your child's doctor to help understand the results. You can use the KidsHealth BMI calculator below to find your child's BMI.

Body mass index (BMI) is a calculation that uses height and weight to estimate how much body fat someone has.

Childrens bmi calculator