![]() ![]() They may be going through puberty later than their peers. What if your child is underweight? Most kids who weigh less than others their age are just fine. Focus on healthy behaviors, like eating more fruit and vegetables and being active every day. Doctors also can prescribe medicine or surgery for some kids. If your child has a high BMI, the doctor may give you diet and exercise recommendations. The doctor can put all this information together to tell if there's a weight or growth problem. If the doctor is concerned about your child's height, weight, or BMI, they may ask questions about your child's health, physical activity, and eating habits, and your family's medical history. The doctor has measured your child's height and weight over time and knows whether growth is going as it should. If you think your child has gained too much weight or is too thin, talk to their doctor. These are other good reasons to talk about your child's BMI with your doctor. Likewise, a small person with a small frame may have a normal BMI but could still have too much body fat. ![]() Someone with a large frame or a lot of muscle (like a bodybuilder or athlete) can have a high BMI but not too much fat. ![]() And adults who are overweight have a greater chance of serious health problems, such as heart disease.Īlthough BMI can be a good indicator of body fat, it doesn't always tell the full story. Overweight kids and teens can develop weight-related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure and are more likely to be overweight as adults. Spotting trends early can be helpful before a child's weight loss or weight gain become a problem. They also consider the stage of puberty and the child's past BMI results to track growth. Doctors use more than a BMI to assess a child's current weight. You can calculate BMI on your own, but talk to your doctor about what it means. So the best way to get accurate measurements is by having kids weighed and measured at a doctor's office or at school. Bathroom scales and tape measures aren't always precise. Obese: BMI at or above the 95th percentile for age, gender, and height.īefore you calculate your child's BMI, you'll need an accurate height and weight measurement. Overweight: BMI at or above the 85th percentile but less than the 95th percentile for age, gender, and height. Healthy weight: BMI is equal to or greater than the 5th percentile and less than the 85th percentile for age, gender, and height. Underweight: BMI below the 5th percentile age, gender, and height. The categories that describe a person's weight are: Each BMI chart is divided into percentiles that compare measurements with children the same age and gender. Different BMI charts are used for boys and girls because growth rate and the amount of body fat differs between boys and girls. Though the formula is the same for adults and children, figuring out what the BMI number means is a little more complicated for kids.įor kids, BMI is plotted on a growth chart because what is normal changes with age. ![]() The BMI formula uses height and weight measurements to calculate a BMI number. What Is Body Mass Index?īody mass index (BMI) is a formula that doctors use to estimate how much body fat someone has. It seems like a simple one, but it's not always easy to answer. "What's the right weight for my child?" is one of the most common questions parents have. ![]()
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