There are several different assessments that are used to evaluate where someone's health status is. Some examples are body weight, body fat percentage, lean muscle mass and BMI, or body mass index. The body mass index is the amount of body fat you have in relation to your height and weight. When it comes to calculating BMI for kids, it is the same as it is for women and men.
Step 1
Weigh the child. Have the child step on the scale with as little clothing as possible to get the most accurate reading. The best time to check it is first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
Step 2
Get a tape measure. Have the child stand with his back against a wall or have him stand inside an open doorway. Place a tick mark on the wall with a pencil and measure his height in inches. Now square that number.
Step 3
Input the information into an equation. Take the weight, divide it by the height in inches squared, then multiply by 703 to get the body mass index. Here's an example of a boy who is 4-feet, 2-inches and weighs 80 pounds: 703 x (80/50 x 50) = a BMI of 22.5.
Step 4
Use the metric system. There is also a metric system formula that can be used. This is done by taking the weight in kilograms and dividing it by the height in meters squared. Here's an example using a girl who is 4-feet-tall and weighs 60 pounds. The first thing you need to do is convert pounds to kilograms and inches to meters.
60/2.2 equals 27.27kg.
48 inches equals 1.22 meters.
27.27/ (1.22 x 1.22) = a BMI of 18.43.
Step 5
Use the computer. You can also go online and use a calculator to find a child's body mass index. The Centers for Disease Control have one set up (see References). Just plug the required information into the calculator and the BMI is calculated.
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