Body mass index is often used to help determine if a person is a healthy weight for his height. By comparing height and weight in this fashion, you arrive at a numeric value that can categorize you into a weight status of underweight, healthy weight, overweight, obese and morbidly obese. BMI is only an estimation of your body fatness, and other tests and assessments must be done to understand whether your weight poses a risk to your health.
Body Mass Index
Regardless of age, body mass index is calculated the same way. According to the National Institutes of Health, multiply your weight in pounds by 703. Divide this number by your height in inches and then divide it again by your height in inches to arrive at your numeric value. For adults, a healthy BMI is any number above 18.4, yet below 25. With teens, this value is placed on a growth chart to compare with peers of the same age and gender.
BMI-For-Age
The placement of this numeric value assigns your teen a percentile. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that any percentile between the fifth and 84th is considered healthy. Less than the fifth means your child is underweight, while above the 84th means your teen is overweight. If the number falls above the 94th percentile, it's often an indication that your teen is obese.
Assessments
BMI is only an estimation of body fatness. It's used as a tool to screen for weight-related health issues, explains the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When a teenager is above the 84th percentile for his age and gender, your doctor will likely run other tests, such as skinfold thickness, and assessments, including current diet, level of physical activity and any underlying disorders that could be contributing to weight gain. If a teenager's weight is considered a health risk, medical professionals often recommend weight loss. If left untreated, however, it could result in weight-related complications.
Complications
As in adults, abnormally high body mass index can raise your teen's blood pressure as well as her cholesterol levels, warns the Mayo Clinic. High blood pressure and high blood cholesterol increases the risk of atherosclerosis, or a narrowing of the arteries. This restricts blood flow and can lead to heart failure, heart attack, aneurysm or stroke. High BMI can also contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, asthma and sleep apnea. For girls, it can cause early puberty, whereas obesity in boys can delay puberty.
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