Why is child BMI different from adult BMI?
Growth, puberty, and age change expected BMI ranges, so pediatric interpretation needs a separate reference.
Child BMI calculator
For children and teens, BMI is compared with age- and sex-based reference ranges instead of adult thresholds alone.
Which standards does the calculator use?
WHO, CDC, and IOTF use different reference ranges and categories. The web MVP should let users choose.
What does the calculator show?
BMI, category, applied standard, healthy BMI range, and a concise explanation.
Resources
BMI articles and guides
Child BMI assessment standards
For children and teens, BMI is interpreted with age- and sex-based reference standards such as WHO, CDC, or IOTF. Learn when each standard fits and why adult cutoffs do not.
BMI percentile calculatorA percentile helps place a child BMI against a reference population of the same age and sex.
BMI by ageAge determines whether BMI should use adult thresholds or pediatric reference ranges.
Calculate and assess BMI
Check the result in the browser or open the app on your platform for more convenient regular use.