See the following example of how some sample BMI numbers would be interpreted for a 10-year-old boy. BMI tables for adults are not accurate for children and teens.BMI-for-age weight status categories and the corresponding percentiles are shown in the following table.ĥth percentile to less than the 85th percentileĮqual to or greater than the 95th percentile BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared.

The growth charts show the weight status categories used with children and teens (underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obese). It’s useful to know because when your weight is not within a healthy range, your health may be at risk. The percentile shows the relative position of the child’s BMI number among children of the same sex and age. How your BMI is calculated A child or teenager's BMI is shown as a 'centile'. Percentiles are the most commonly used indicator to assess the size and growth patterns of individual children in the United States. are aged 18 or over are pregnant have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, or think you may have one have a condition that affects your height If you're aged 18 or over, calculate your BMI for adults. The BMI is not used by itself when evaluating possible obesity in children and teens. In children and teens, BMI is used to find out if a child or teen is underweight, of a healthy weight, overweight, or obese. After BMI is calculated for children and teens, the BMI number is plotted on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) BMI-for-age growth charts (for either girls or boys) to obtain a percentile ranking. The table displays BMI as a function of mass and height and may show other units of measurement (converted to metric units for the calculation). BMI can be considered an alternative for direct measures of body fat and is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems.įor children and teens, BMI calculated based on age and sex and is often called BMI-for-age. While you can calculate the childs BMI manually, it typically is much easier to find a BMI calculator online. BMI is a simple tool that compares weight to height to determine weight categories: underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obesity. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but BMI is moderately correlated with more direct measures of. BMI is an inexpensive and easy screening method for weight categoryunderweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.

Also see safeguards for BMI measurement in schools. The Children’s BMI Tool for Schools School staff, child care leaders, and other professionals can use this spreadsheet to compute BMI for as many as 2,000 children. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI correlates to direct measures of body fat, such as underwater weighing and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Enter the childs information into a BMI calculator. Body mass index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. Use this calculator for children and teens, aged 2 through 19 years old. BMI is a reliable indicator of body fat for most people. Cancer Clinical Trials Online Educationīody Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height.

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