Body mass index (BMI) is a way that many health professionals chart a child's growth. A BMI that is high is considered a marker that the child may be at an increased risk of some health problems, such as diabetes.
History
The BMI formula, originally known as the Quetelet's Formula was developed in the mid-1800s by Adolphe Quetelet. The formula didn't become widely used until the 1980s.
Purpose
Body mass index is a way to measure body fatness in children and teens. The BMl is preferred over more complex methods, such as underwater weighing, because determining BMI is easier and less expensive.
Calculation
To calculate a child's BMI, you must multiply 703 by the child's weight in pounds, then divide that by the child's height in inches squared. BMI=(703 x lbs)÷(height in inches x height in inches)
Method
The BMI chart for children and teens is based upon the percentile in which the child falls. The healthy range is the 5th percentile to just under the 85th percentile, while percentiles under that range are underweight and percentiles over that range are overweight, and possibly obese (95th percentile and above).
Considerations
Because of muscle mass and growth variations in children, the BMI chart may not be fully accurate for all children.
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