The BMI calculation is a parameter that takes height and weight into consideration. According to the Centers for Disease Control, for children, BMI is used to screen for obesity, overweight, healthy weight or underweight. In order to calculate BMI, you need to use an equation. This is the same standard formula that is used for adults, and you can determine your child's BMI by following several basic steps.
Step 1
Weigh your child with a regular scale. Have your son step on the scale first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, after using the bathroom. Make sure he is wearing as little clothing as possible, and calculate his weight in pounds. Use 90 lbs. as an example.
Step 2
Determine the height of your child. Have your daughter take off her shoes and stand with her back to a wall. Place a small tick mark on the wall at the top of her head. Take out a measuring tape and measure her height.
Step 3
Convert the height of your child into inches squared. Use 4 feet, 3 inches as an example. Your son's height would be 51 inches. Square this amount and you get 2601 inches.
Step 4
Input your information into an equation to get your child's BMI. The standard system equation is weight divided by height in inches squared times 703. Using the weight and height in Steps 1 and 3, the equation would be 90/2601 x 703, and your child's BMI would be 24.
Tips and Warnings
- If you want to take a short cut to determine your child's BMI, use an online resource like the BMI percentile calculator offered by the CDC. These calculators will tell you whether your child's BMI indicates if he is underweight, normal or overweight.
Things You'll Need
- Scale
- Tape measure
- Pencil
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