You have to consult a chart to determine what that number means based on the child's age and biological sex. The calculator will provide you with the child's BMI however, unlike an adult BMI calculation, the child's specific BMI doesn't tell you much.Don't use a calculator if the website is asking for your name, email address, or any other such information before giving you the results. Ideally, you want to use a calculator on the website of a government agency or health care provider you trust.Many state government and health insurance agencies also have reliable calculators. You can find a reliable children's BMI calculator on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website here.X Trustworthy Source Health圜 Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics. All you have to do is provide the child's age, biological sex, and measurements. While you can calculate the child's BMI manually, it typically is much easier to find a BMI calculator online. Using a metal tape measure, find the child's height by measuring the distance from the floor to the mark you made.Įnter the child's information into a BMI calculator.You may want to have the child duck out from under it once you have the stick in place so you can make your mark. Make a light mark with a pencil at the spot where the bottom of your stick hits the wall.Lower it until it firmly rests on the top of the child's head. Get a flat stick such as a ruler and place it against the wall at a right angle.Keep in mind that depending on the child's body shape, they may not be able to touch the wall with all of those body parts. The child's heels should be together, their shoulders flat. Have the child stand straight with their head, shoulders, buttocks, and heels against the wall, looking straight ahead.Choose a location where the child can stand straight against the wall on an uncarpeted floor.

You can get an accurate measure of the child's height at home with a flat stick, a wall, and a measuring tape. Get advice from your midwife or GP if you're concerned about your weight.Measure the child's height. You should not use BMI as a measure if you're pregnant. For example, adults of South Asian origin may have a higher risk of some health problems, such as diabetes, with a BMI of 23, which is usually considered healthy. Your ethnic group can also affect your risk of some health conditions. Muscle is much denser than fat, so very muscular people, such as heavyweight boxers, weight trainers and athletes, may be a healthy weight even though their BMI is classed as obese. Accuracy of BMIīMI takes into account natural variations in body shape, giving a healthy weight range for a particular height.Īs well as measuring your BMI, healthcare professionals may take other factors into account when assessing if you're a healthy weight. If you want to calculate your BMI, you can use the healthy weight calculator.

between 25 and 29.9 – you're in the overweight range.between 18.5 and 24.9 – you're in the healthy weight range.

below 18.5 – you're in the underweight range.BMI rangesįor most adults, an ideal BMI is in the 18.5 to 24.9 range.įor children and young people aged 2 to 18, the BMI calculation takes into account age and gender as well as height and weight. The BMI calculation divides an adult's weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared. The body mass index (BMI) is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy.

Calculate bmi for children