What is Body Mass Index (BMI) What is Body Mass Index (BMI)

Body Mass Index is a number calculated using the measurement of a child’s weight…

… and height.

BMI in children –is age and sex specific because of the difference in the normal growth curves for boys and girls. –is recommended by the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to screen for overweight in children beginning at age 2.

BMI is used as a method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems. –Screening tools are used to indicate which students need further evaluation. –Further evaluation by a family doctor may include: skinfold measurements, assessment of diet, exercise and activity.

BMI Percentile The child’s BMI is checked on a standardized growth grid and given a percentile ranking. Percentile indicates the relative position of a child’s BMI number among other children of the same sex and age. BMI percentile is then checked for weight status category to give some indication of relative risk for overweight.

Weight Status Category Weight status categories are then assigned according to the BMI percentiles. Weight Status Category BMI Percentile Range UnderweightLess than 5 th percentile Healthy weight5 th to less than 85 th percentile At risk of being overweight 85 th to less than 95 th percentile OverweightEqual to or greater than 95 th percentile

Health Consequences for Children and Teens Overweight children may have risk factors for cardiovascular disease elevated cholesterol elevated insulin elevated blood pressure

For additional information and resources: Contact your family physician. Check out the CDC website and search for BMI. There is a great BMI calculator at the website that will calculate BMI for children and adults. –

This presentation was made possible through funding from the Carol M. White Physical Education Program Grant