How do you calculate BMI for children?
To calculate this:
- Measure the child's weight in kilograms (not grams). This may be expressed in a decimal value, such as 12.7 kilograms.
- Measure the child's height in centimeters (not meters). This would be expressed, for example, as 105 centimeters and not 1.05 meters.
- Calculate the BMI by dividing the weight by the height squared and multiplying that total by 10,000.
What is the normal BMI range for children?
What Is a Normal BMI for Children?
- Healthy BMIs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, kids with BMIs between the 5th and the 85th percentiles fall within a normal, healthy range.
- Calculating BMI. BMIs are calculated the same way for children as they are for adults. ...
- Exceptions. ...
- Reaching a Healthy Weight. ...
How do you calculate BMI on a calculator?
BMI is calculated by: Dividing your weight (kg) by your height (m) Dividing the answer by your height (m) again to get your BMI. If your BMI is greater than 25, then you fall into the overweight category. As weight increases above a healthy range, the increased body fat levels are associated with a higher risk of developing health problems such ...
How to calculate my BMI, and what it means?
HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR BODY MASS INDEX - AND WHAT IT MEANS. Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on your weight in relation to your height. Standard Formula: BMI = (weight in pounds ...
How do you calculate BMI in children?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from weight and height (weight[kg]/height[m]²).
What is a normal BMI for a child?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, kids with BMIs between the 5th and the 85th percentiles fall within a normal, healthy range. However, if you're child's BMI is at the 85th percentile or above—based on his gender and age—he is considered overweight or obese, according to the CDC.
Does BMI apply to children?
If the child is under 2 years old, BMI cannot be calculated. Consult a healthcare provider for assessment. Based on the Birth Date and Date of Measurement, the calculated age is 20 years or older. This calculator can be used only if the calculated age is less than 20 years old.
How do you calculate BMI for kids in KG?
October 14, 2022 Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator Body Mass Index is a simple calculation using a person's height and weight. The formula is BMI = kg/m2 where kg is a person's weight in kilograms and m2 is their height in metres squared. A BMI of 25.0 or more is overweight, while the healthy range is 18.5 to 24.9.
Why is BMI inaccurate for kids?
Why? Because kids' body fat percentages change as they grow. Their BMIs vary based on their age and gender. That's why when healthcare professionals talk about a child's BMI, you won't usually hear a plain number, like 25, but rather a percentile, like 75th.
What should a 10 year olds BMI be?
Normal BMIs for boys range from 13.8-16.8 for a 5 year old, 14.2 to 19.4 for a 10 year old, and 16.5-23.4 for a 15 year old. Normal girl BMIs include 13.6 to 16.7 for a 5 year old, 14 to 19.5 for a 10 year old, and 16.3 to 24 for a 15 year old.
Is BMI different for kids?
BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. A child's weight status is different from adult BMI categories.
Is BMI for kids and adults different?
And it's figured out the same way for adults and children, but for adults, the normal range of BMI is the same for all adults. With children, they grow at different rates, so it's a measure of weight for height for them, compared to other children their age.
Is BMI calculated differently for children and adults?
BMI is interpreted differently for children and teens, even though it is calculated using the same formula as adult BMI. Children and teen's BMI need to be age and sex-specific because the amount of body fat changes with age and the amount of body fat differs between girls and boys.
How do I calculate my child's ideal weight?
for children shorter than 5 ft, the IBW in kilograms is calculated as ([height in centimeters]2 × 1.65)/1000. for boys taller than 5 ft, the IBW in kilograms is calculated as 39 + (2.27 × [height in inches − 60]). for girls taller than 5 ft, the IBW in kilograms is calculated as 42 + (2.27 × [height in inches − 60]).
How do you calculate a child's weight by age?
Background According to the Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) guidelines, the weight of children between the ages of 1 and 10 years can be safely estimated using the formula: weight=2 × (age +4). Although several alternative methods have been proposed to be more accurate, they are not widely used.
How much should a 10 year old weigh?
10- to 12-Year-Old Children While a 10-year-old boy usually weighs between 53 to 109 pounds, girls of the same age often weigh between 53 to 113 pounds. The recommended range for BMI considers these weight differences.
What is a healthy BMI by age?
between 18 and 24.9Doctors recommend most adults keep their BMI between 18 and 24.9. Adults with a BMI over 25 are considered obese. On the other hand, older adults do better if they have a BMI between 25 and 27. Research shows that adults over 65 who are underweight experience more health issues and shorter life expectancy.
What is a good BMI for a 12 year old?
between 18.5 and 24.9A BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9 is ideal.
What BMI is too low for a child?
The BMI takes the child's height, weight, gender and age into consideration. “A BMI of less than 5 percent is considered underweight,” she explains. There are three main categories for poor weight gain, Saccaro says. “Too few calories in, not absorbing enough calories, or using up too many calories.
What BMI is obese for a child?
For example, a 10-year-old boy of average height (56 inches) who weighs 102 pounds would have a BMI of 22.9 kg/m2. This would place the boy in the 95th percentile for BMI, and he would be considered as having obesity.
What age is the BMI for kids?
This is why BMI for children, also known as BMI-for-age, includes gender and age. This calculator gives an approximate BMI for children from ages 5 to 18. It will tell you if a child is underweight, at an ideal weight, at risk of being overweight, or is now overweight.
What is a BMI for 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. A child's body fat changes with age. Also, girls and boys differ in their amount of body fat as they mature. This is why BMI for children, also known as BMI-for-age, includes gender and age.
Why is my child thin?
Your child may be naturally thin. Or it's possible a health problem could be causing your child to be underweight. Talk with your child's healthcare provider. This puts your child percentile, which means your child is at an ideal weight. An ideal BMI for your child's gender and age is between and .
What does it mean when a child is overweight?
Overweight is a point at which your child's weight is no longer healthy. This is serious. Although your child isn't yet overweight, work with your healthcare provider—and your child—to keep this from becoming a future problem. An overweight child may develop problems with self-esteem.
Can overweight children develop diabetes?
An overweight child may develop problems with self-esteem. And healthcare providers have found that overweight children are developing serious health problems such as diabetes early in life that do not develop in children of normal weight. Overweight children tend to become overweight adults.
Is it healthy for kids to eat a lot of calories?
Keep in mind, though, that some calories are nutritious and others aren't. Your child may eat the right amount of food for a healthy weight, but still not get all the nutrients needed for good overall health. That's why it's still important to encourage your child to eat nutritious foods and get plenty of exercise.
Can you consult a healthcare provider about your child's health?
Always consult a healthcare provider for advice concerning your health. Only your healthcare provider can advise you about your child's health.
How to calculate a child's BMI?
To calculate a child's BMI, you must first measure the child's height and weight accurately. For children, the BMI is interpreted according to a growth chart that adjusts for a child's age and biological sex. [1]
What is the BMI of a child?
The BMI is expressed as a percentile, which measures the child's BMI relative to other children in the U.S. [7] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source.
What percentage of BMI is normal?
If the child's BMI is greater than the 5th percentile but below the 85th percentile, the child has a normal or healthy weight. You still should monitor the child's activities and eating, particularly if they fall at the upper end of that range.
Why is it important to know your child's BMI?
Knowing your child's BMI helps you determine what measures you should take to help the child develop a healthy and active lifestyle. Maintaining a BMI in the healthy range as a child can decrease the risk of serious health conditions in adulthood .
How to get a child to weigh more accurately?
Have the child stand straight up with both feet on the scale. You may want to have the child step off the scale and repeat the weighing twice more for the most accuracy , especially if the child is fidgety.
What are the best ways to keep a child active?
Enroll the child in age-appropriate activities. School and community sports and other activities keep the child active. The child also can learn important lessons about teamwork, discipline, and responsibility. [14]
How to find the height of a child?
Using a metal tape measure, find the child's height by measuring the distance from the floor to the mark you made.
How does the BMI calculator for kids work?
This BMI calculator for kids returns the body mass index (BMI) value based on child’s age, gender, height and weight; together with the child’s weight status category and with the percentile range values. The tool has two tabs that are designed to make the calculations for the two measurements systems, English and metric. In order to determine the BMI percentile it needs the height, weight and age. What you need to take into consideration is that any small error that could occur during the measurements will lead to a large error in the results and therefore to an inaccurate determination. You should also consider which measurement you want to use and stick to it, so you take the weight in kg and the height in cm or the weight in lbs and the height in inches. The weight tool above can be used for children and teens with ages ranging from 2 to 19 years old.
How to calculate BMI for the young?
The form above provides both the BMI value and the corresponding BMI for age percentile on a CDC BMI for age growth chart. What there is to keep in mind is that a percentile below 5 means underweight while everything that is above 95 means obese. There is also a distinction made between 85 and 95 for overweight.
What is the risk of cardiovascular disease in children?
Studies say that six out of ten children and teens that have a BMI value placed above the 95 th percentile are at risk of developing a cardiovascular disease at some point in their lives. From those six, two are said to have 2 or three risk factors for developing such life threatening conditions. Going below this percentile, the range between 85 and 94, which is currently considered as overweight also has similar health risk factors. It is worth mentioning that overweight children have a greater chance of becoming overweight or even obese adults.
What is the BMI of a child?
Body Mass Index for children. The BMI is generically known as an index provided to determine the harmonious or not relationship between the weight and the height. However, when it comes to children, these index needs to be refined as to take into consideration the ratios of development for each age.
Is there a connection between maternal employment and child BMI?
Some other study has proven there is a connection between maternal employment and child BMI as a non standard work schedule for the mother and more working hours are said to be in correlation to higher BMI values for those children. However, such implications and other similar are still to be considered.
What to do if your child has a BMI?
Regardless of the current BMI-for-age category, help your child or teen develop healthy weight habits and talk with your doctor or other healthcare provider as part of ongoing tracking of BMI-for-age. If your child has significant weight loss or gain, he or she should be referred to and guided by a doctor or other healthcare provider. ...
What percentile is a child's BMI?
Because BMI percentiles are problematic when they approach 100, one alternative is to express the child's BMI as a percentage of the 95th percentile. Based on the entered weight and height, this child has a BMI that is % of the 95th percentile (the cut point for obesity).
What is the BMI percentile?
BMI-for-age percentile shows how your child’s weight compares to that of other children of the same age and sex. For example, a BMI-for-age percentile of 65 means that the child’s weight is greater than that of 65% of other children of the same age and sex. Based on the height and weight entered, the BMI is , placing the BMI-for-age ...
What percentile is healthy weight?
healthy weight, 5th percentile up to the 85th percentile. overweight, 85th to less than the 95th percentile. has obesity, equal to or greater than the 95th percentile.
How to help teens with weight loss?
Encourage children and teens to practice healthy weight habits by: Consuming healthy foods and beverages including water. Participating in physical activity on most (preferably all) days of the week. Getting adequate sleep.
Can a child be obese?
Although the child does not currently have obesity, this child has the potential for becoming obese so it is important to prevent excess weight gain. Children and teens should NOT be placed on a weight reduction diet without the consultation of a healthcare provider.
Is BMI a substitute for medical advice?
Please keep in mind that this BMI calculator is not meant to serve as a source of clinical guidance and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Because BMI is based on weight and height, it is only an indicator of body fatness.
How is a child's BMI calculated?
Your pediatrician will measure your child's height and weight with their shoes and heavy clothes off , and then calculate BMI with this formula:
What does your child's BMI mean?
For example, a 5-year-old boy with a BMI in the 88th percentile means this child's BMI is higher than 88% of other 5-year-old boys and would be considered in the overweight category. The BMI percentile-ranges and weight status categories:
What are BMI percentile categories?
The terms underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obese can be another source of confusion for many parents. For pediatricians, these are useful categories that can show whether a child is gaining weight too quickly or not quickly enough.
Why is it important to keep your BMI healthy?
Preventing obesity and keeping BMI in the healthy range is critical for children's overall health and well-being, as well as continued health as they grow and become adults. Talk with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's weight.
What percentile should a child be in?
Ideally, children should fall in the target ranges between the 5th and 85th percentiles. Children below 5th percentile could have a nutritional shortfall—either not taking in enough calories or burning up more calories than they are getting, or both. Likewise, children above the 85th percentile are likely, but not always, getting too many calories in their diet, not burning up enough calories through physical activity, or both. Although less common, some medical conditions can cause children to gain or lose weight more easily.
What does a BMI of 65 mean?
For example, a BMI-for-age percentile of 65 means that the child's weight is greater than that of 65% of other children of the same age and sex. Pediatricians plot this number on a standardized growth chart for a visual comparison, and to help track growth trends over time.
What is the BMI of a person?
In simple terms, a person's Body Mass Index or BMI is a calculated measurement of someone's weight in relation to their height. This number serves as a quick estimate of body fat. It is puts people in weight categories such as underweight, overweight, and obesity. We know that children are constantly growing, and do so at different rates.
What is BMI in children?
What is BMI? Body Mass Index (BMI) is used as a screening tool to identify possible weight problems in children. BMI is calculated from a person's weight and height. This calculator can help to determine whether a child is at a healthy weight for his/her height, age and gender.
What percentile is a child's BMI?
A BMI Percentile of: Suggests that a child is: Less than the 5th percentile. Underweight. 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile. Healthy Weight. 85th to less than the 95th percentile. Overweight. Equal to or greater than the 95th percentile.
What should parents watch for when plotting a BMI calculator?
According to Roman Shypailo, a CNRC body composition expert who developed the calculator, parents who plot the calculator results should watch for significant "drifting," either up or down, in their child's BMI-for-age percentile over time.
What is the BMI of an 8 year old girl?
For example, a 62-pound, 50-inch tall, 8-year-old girl has a BMI of 17.5, which puts her at the 77th percentile for age. This is a healthy weight for her age and her parents should expect future weight gains to keep her BMI-for-age "tracking" along the 77th percentile as she gets older.
When should I use my BMI?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the use of BMI to screen for overweight and obesity in children beginning at 2 years old. You can read more about BMI and daily energy requirements at the Children's Nutrition Research Center's web site.
Why is my BMI high?
Very athletic kids can have a high BMI-for-age due to extra muscle mass, not necessarily excess body fat. As a result, a child may have a high BMI for their age and gender, but to determine if excess fat is a problem, a health care provider would need to perform further tests.
