1. What is BMI Percentile?

BMI percentile is a measure that compares a child's BMI to others of the same age and gender. It's used to assess whether a child has a healthy weight, is underweight, overweight, or obese based on growth charts.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formulas:

Where:

• \( weight \) — Body weight in kilograms
• \( height \) — Height in meters
• \( age \) — Age in years (2-20)
• \( gender \) — Biological sex (male/female)

Explanation: The BMI is calculated first, then compared to standardized growth charts to determine what percentage of children of the same age and gender have a lower BMI.

3. Importance of BMI Percentile

Details: BMI percentile is the preferred measure for assessing weight status in children and teens because it accounts for normal differences in body composition at various ages and between boys and girls.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter age (2-20 years), gender, weight in kg, and height in meters. For accurate results, measurements should be taken with minimal clothing and no shoes.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What do the percentile numbers mean?
A: Below 5th percentile = underweight; 5th-85th = healthy weight; 85th-95th = overweight; Above 95th = obese.

Q2: Why use percentiles instead of BMI categories like adults?
A: Children's body composition changes naturally with growth, so fixed BMI categories aren't appropriate.

Q3: How often should BMI percentile be checked?
A: At least annually for all children, more frequently if weight concerns exist.

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI percentile?
A: It doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle mass, so athletic children may be misclassified.

Q5: What if my child is above the 85th percentile?
A: Consult a healthcare provider for evaluation and guidance on healthy lifestyle changes.