1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a value derived from the mass and height of a person. It provides a simple numeric measure of a person's thickness or thinness, allowing health professionals to discuss weight problems objectively with their patients.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

• \( weight \) — Body weight in kilograms
• \( height \) — Height in meters

For children and teens (ages 2-19), BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. Their weight status is determined by comparing their BMI to growth charts.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is a simple, inexpensive screening tool for weight categories that may lead to health problems. It's used to identify possible weight problems in adults and children.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, and age in years. For children, the result will indicate that percentile calculation is needed for proper interpretation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a healthy BMI range?
A: For adults, 18.5-24.9 is considered healthy. For children, consult growth charts specific to age and gender.

Q2: Does BMI apply to everyone?
A: BMI may overestimate body fat in athletes and underestimate it in older persons who have lost muscle mass.

Q3: How often should BMI be calculated?
A: For adults, annually is sufficient unless significant weight changes occur. Children should be tracked on growth charts at regular checkups.

Q4: What are BMI percentiles for children?
A: Underweight (<5th percentile), Healthy weight (5th-85th), Overweight (85th-95th), Obese (≥95th).

Q5: Are there better measures than BMI?
A: Waist circumference and body fat percentage may provide additional information, but BMI remains the standard screening tool.