This means that the child’s BMI is greater than the BMI of 95% of 10-year-old boys in the reference population.įor adults, BMI is interpreted as weight status categories that are not dependent on sex or age. This would place the boy in the 95 th percentile for BMI, and he would be considered to have obesity. For example, a 10-year-old boy of average height (56 inches) who weighs 102 pounds would have a BMI of 22.9 kg/m 2. Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95 th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. At 2 years of age, the mean BMI Z-scores of boys and girls with DS were lower compared to those of the CDC (Z-score 0.2). These percentiles are calculated from the CDC growth charts, which were based on national survey data collected from 1963-65 to 1988-94 4. If your BMI is 25.0 to 29.9, it falls within the overweight range. If your BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, it falls within the Healthy Weight range. If your BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the underweight range. Or determine your BMI by finding your height and weight in this BMI Index Chart. If your BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, it falls within the Healthy. Due to changes in weight and height with age, as well as their relation to body fatness, BMI levels among children and teens are expressed relative to other children of the same sex and age. To calculate your BMI, see the BMI Calculator. Adult Body Mass Index or BMI If your BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the underweight range. Is BMI interpreted the same way for children and teens as it is for adults?īMI is interpreted differently for children and teens even though it is calculated with the same formula. With individuals, health care providers should consider BMI along with other factors such as family history, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and eating patterns and physical activity level. The spreadsheet is designed to calculate BMI-for-age percentiles for up to 20,000 children. A single BMI-for-age calculation is not enough to evaluate long-term weight status because your child’s height and weight will change as they grow. Tracking growth patterns over time can help you make sure your child is achieving or maintaining a healthy weight. 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.

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. Children whose weight puts them in the 95th percentile, or heavier than 95 percent of children their age. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. BMI is a scale that defines obesity by taking body weight and height into account. It is an inexpensive and easy way to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

Body mass index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.

Cdc bmi calculator for children