The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention use the body mass index, or BMI, measurement to screen children for weight problems. The Centers have developed charts that represent the relative BMIs of all children in the United States. A child is considered to be at a healthy weight if his BMI falls between the 5th and 85th percentile for his age group. A BMI that falls outside of that range indicates that the child may be underweight or overweight; if the BMI is above the 95th percentile, the child is considered obese. To calculate your child's BMI, divide his weight in pounds by his height in inches squared, then multiply the result by 703.
BMI Ranges for Girls Ages 2 to 10 Years
Because the heights and weights of boys and girls do not diverge significantly until puberty, the BMI ranges for both genders are very similar for individuals under the age of 10. According to the CDC, a healthy BMI range for a two-year old girl is 14.4 to 18 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 19.1. A healthy BMI range for a three-year old girl is 14 to 17.2 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 18.3. A healthy BMI range for a four-year old girl is 13.7 to 16.8 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 18. A healthy BMI range for a five-year old girl is 13.5 to 16.8 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 18.3. A healthy BMI range for a six-year old girl is 13.4 to 17.1 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 18.8. A healthy BMI range for a seven-year old girl is 13.4 to 17.7 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 19.8. A healthy BMI range for an eight-year old girl is 13.5 to 18.3 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 20.7. A healthy BMI range for a nine-year old girl is 13.7 to 19.1 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 21.8. A healthy BMI range for a 10-year old girl is 14 to 20 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 23.
BMI Ranges for Boys Ages 2 to 10 Years
According to the CDC, a healthy BMI range for a two-year old boy is 14.7 to 18.2 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 19.3. A healthy BMI range for a three-year old boy is 14.3 to 17.3 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 18.2. A healthy BMI range for a four-year old boy is 14 to 16.9 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 17.8. A healthy BMI range for a five-year old boy is 13.8 to 16.8 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 17.9. A healthy BMI range for a six-year old boy is 13.7 to 17 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 18.4. A healthy BMI range for a seven-year old boy is 13.7 to 17.4 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 19.1. A healthy BMI range for an eight-year old boy is 13.8 to 18 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 20. A healthy BMI range for a nine-year old boy is 14 to 18.6 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 20. A healthy BMI range for a 10-year old boy is 14.2 to 19.4 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 22.2.
BMI Ranges for Girls Ages 11 to 18 Years
As girls and boys enter puberty, boys start to become significantly heavier than girls for their height. Therefore, the BMI ranges for boys and girls start to diverge to a greater degree. According to the CDC, a healthy BMI range for an 11-year old girl is 14.4 to 20.9 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 24.1. A healthy BMI range for a 12-year old girl is 14.8 to 21.7 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 25.2. A healthy BMI range for a 13-year old girl is 15.3 to 22.6 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 26.3. A healthy BMI range for a 14-year old girl is 15.8 to 23.3 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 27.2. A healthy BMI range for a 15-year old girl is 16.3 to 24 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 28.1. A healthy BMI range for a 16-year old girl is 16.8 to 24.7 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 29. A healthy BMI range for a 17-year old girl is 17.2 to 25.2 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 29.6. A healthy BMI range for an 18 year-old girl is 17.6 to 25.7 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 30.3.
BMI Ranges for Boys Ages 11 to 18 Years
According to the CDC, a healthy BMI range for an 11-year old boy is 14.6 to 20.2 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 23.2. A healthy BMI range for a 12-year old boy is 15 to 21 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 24.2. A healthy BMI range for a 13-year old boy is 15.5 to 21.9 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 25.2. A healthy BMI range for a 14-year old boy is 16 to 22.7 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 26. A healthy BMI range for a 15-year old boy is 16.6 to 23.5 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 26.8. A healthy BMI range for a 16-year old boy is 17.1 to 24.2 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 27.6. A healthy BMI range for a 17-year old boy is 17.7 to 25 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 28.2. A healthy BMI range for an 18-year old boy is 18.2 to 25.5 and obesity occurs at a BMI of 28.8.
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