The BMI calculation divides an adult's weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared. The weight status calculation for children and teenagers is based on the BMI-for-age charts developed by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC 2000). J. Clin. Why is that? BMI is not a direct measure of body fat. The BMI Calculator for Kids provides an approximate BMI for children between 5 – 19 years of age. It is calculated in the same way as for adults, but then compared to typical values for other children of the same age. Low self-esteem and low self-reported quality of life. Overweight children have an increased risk for becoming overweight or obese adults. Being underweight can also put one at risk for health issues. So for kids, BMI levels that define being normal weight or … The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended weight gain is as follows: If you were underweight before pregnancy (for the IOM, that is a BMI of less than 18.5): between about 28 to 40 pounds or 12.5 and 18 kgs extra weight … Children with BMIs that drop below the 5th percentile are classified as underweight, and should be seen by a pediatrician to determine a cause and treatment. They also use separate charts for boys and girls to account for differences in growth rates and amounts of body fat as the two … It's common for kids to gain weight quickly — and see their BMI go up — … © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Jun 2008; 10(3): 308-15. The calculation starts with a standard BMI based on your child's height and weight. Her articles are published on various health, nutrition and fitness websites. Nutrition and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children. What Is a Healthy Caloric Intake for a 13-Year-Old-Girl? Screening and interventions for childhood overweight: a summary of evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Int. The prevalence of children and teens who measure in the 95th percentile or greater on the CDC growth charts has greatly increased over the past 40 years. These percentiles are calculated from the CDC growth charts, which were based on national survey data collected from 1963-65 to 1988-944. Unlike adults for whom a BMI of 25 to 30 is considered overweight and a BMI is classified as obese, children require a different standard of evaluation given that their bodies change so rapidly. 5Ogden CL, Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Johnson CL. Pediatrics. As children grow, their amount of body fat changes and so will their BMI. However, if a child or teen has a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher, the child is almost certainly obese. Most pediatricians regularly monitor a child’s BMI to be sure he stays within a healthy range. Health-related quality of life of severely obese children and adolescents. & Webster, J., 1985. To receive email updates about this topic, enter your email address. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. Calculate Sara’s BMI using the BMI Look-Up Table for Children and Adolescents 5–18 Years of Age (85–114 cm tall). 2002;288:1728–32. BMI is used differently for children. BMI is interpreted differently for children and teens even though it is calculated with the same formula. BMI is not a direct measure of body fat. BMI for children and teens also takes into account gender and age because healthy body fatness differs between boys and girls and changes as they grow. Please note: BMI is a useful measurement of growth for most, but it is only an estimate and it is not able to differentiate between body fat and muscle mass.In addition, BMI may not be appropriate for people, particularly children, with certain health conditions such as some endocrine or genetic conditions. J Pediatr. If children have a high BMI for their age and sex, a health care provider may perform further assessments to determine if excess fat is a problem. Erin Coleman is a registered and licensed dietitian. Calculate Your Body Mass Index. The percentile is the number that ranks your child's BMI among the BMIs of children of the same gender and age. Obesity and asthma. Obesity increases a child's risk of emotional and physical health problems. BMIs aren’t always the best indicator of obesity in children. Pediatrics. Children who maintain a normal, healthy body mass index, or BMI, have a reduced risk for obesity and related health problems. 2000 CDC Growth Charts for the United States: methods and development. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. 4Kuczmarski, R.J. et al., 2002. That's why a BMI calculation for a child or adolescent must take into account their age and gender (we do this using percentile charts). It's common for kids to gain weight quickly — and see their BMI go up — … Obese children are more likely to become obese adults. Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. For children and teens, BMI is not a diagnostic tool. Fatty liver disease, gallstones, and gastro-esophageal reflux (i.e., heartburn). 2Freedman, D.S., Horlick, M. & Berenson, G.S., 2013. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2007;150(1):12—17.e2. In general, if your BMI (Body Mass Index) is low, you should gain more weight than if it's high. Talking With Your Pediatrician About BMI BMI is a widely used tool to estimate the amount of weight a child is carrying compared to their height; for the majority of children it works very well and feeding your child's height and mass into a BMI centile chart, comparing them with others of their age and sex, will give a rough idea of whether they are a healthy … The adult calculator provides only the BMI value and not the BMI percentile. In children, a high amount of body fat can lead to weight-related diseases and other health issues. 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. Talk with your pediatrician to determine your child’s individualized obesity and disease risks, regardless of his BMI. In addition, male and female children have differences in body fat distribution, within a range of normal body shapes and sizes. 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. Nutr., 98(6), pp.1417–24. 11., 11(246), pp.1–190. These assessments might include skinfold thickness measurements, evaluations of diet, physical activity, family history, and other appropriate health screenings. 2005;116(1):e125—144. What are the BMI trends for children and teens in the United States? Jun 2006;117(6):2167—2174. Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend the use of BMI to screen for overweight and obesity in children and teens age 2 through 19 years. Body Mass Index for children. Many parents and doctors use height and weight charts as a tool to evaluate how a kid is developing. 13Mustillo S, et al. What Is the Average Number of Calories a Teenager Should Burn? And a kid with a small frame may have a normal BMI but still can have too much body fat. Weight and height change during growth and development, as does their relation to body fatness. See the following graphic for an example for a 10-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy who both have a BMI-for-age of 23. To help achieve or maintain a healthy body weight, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends children and teens get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. BMI Calculation: Weight (kg) / [Height (m)]2 Classification of weight status for Chinese adults in Hong Kong  Classification (BMI) Male Number (%) Female Number (%) Overall Number (%) Underweight (BMI <18.5) 53 (5.7%) 157 (14.4%) 210 (10.5%) Normal (BMI 18.5-<23.0) 395 (42.9%) 557 (51.0%) 952 (47.3%) Overweight (BMI … Children's BMI are determined using their height, weight, age and gender. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. The BMI-percentile-for-age calculator automatically adjusts for differences in height, age and gender, making it one of the best tools for evaluating a growing child's weight. Academic pediatrics 13.1 (2013): 6-13. Normal or healthy weight weight status is based on BMI between the 5th and 85th percentile on the CDC growth chart. Body Mass Index (BMI)- for-Age Children and Youth Aged 6 to 18 Years Old The following provides a guide to use and interpret the BMI-for-age charts Step 1 Obtain and record accurate height and weight of the child. Top of Page. BMI-for-age weight status categories and the corresponding percentiles were based on expert committee recommendations and are shown in the following table. Recently, however, this trend has leveled off and has even declined in certain age groups. In most cases, girls BMI measurements for this age group (12 years old) will lie within the range between 30.02 and 65.9 . More than 12 percent of children aged 2 to 5 years are obese, as are 17 percent of children aged 6 to 19, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). BMI for age percentiles for girls 2 to 20 years of age. The following is an example of how sample BMI numbers would be interpreted for a 10-year-old boy. 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