CDC Pediatric BMI Calculator

Use our FREE CDC Pediatric BMI Calculator to determine your child's BMI percentile. Unlike the standard BMI calculation method we use age and gender percentiles from the CDC growth chart to calculate your child's BMI percentile. This is helpful for parents and doctors who need to know whether a child is in a healthy or unhealthy weight range.

Child's BMI Percentile

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Percentile

Pediatric BMI Overview

Pediatric BMI tells you your child's weight in relation to your height and age. In contrast to the standard BMI calculation method which has specific thresholds for adults pediatric BMI uses percentiles which can be calculated based on height age and gender. Children grow with time and what is normal for one age is not necessarily normal for another. The CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) recommends using BMI percentiles to evaluate the weight of children and adolescents aged 2-19. Our CDC Pediatric BMI Calculator calculates your child's BMI percentile based on CDC growth charts and provides you with an interpretation of the result.

How to Use the CDC Pediatric BMI Calculator

Using our child BMI calculator is as easy as entering a few short inputs and reading the result. Simply select your child's gender and enter his or her age height and weight in the form above this calculator. After clicking the "Calculate BMI Percentile" button you will see your child's BMI percentile and details about the result.

Pro Tip: BMI is a screening tool not a diagnostic tool. Therefore it is recommended to use pediatric BMI percentiles in conjunction with other tools to assess your child's health. In particular you should not make any assumptions about your child's health based on the BMI percentile calculator result but rather consult with your local pediatrician.

CDC Pediatric BMI Percentile Categories

The CDC defines the following BMI percentile categories for children and adolescents:

Percentile range	Category
Below 5th percentile	Underweight
5th to 85th percentile	Healthy weight
85th to 95th percentile	Overweight
95th percentile and above	Obese

The Importance of BMI Percentiles in Children and Adolescents

BMI percentiles indicate whether a child or an adolescent is underweight overweight or obese. Being underweight can be a sign of malnutrition whereas being overweight or obese can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes high blood pressure and other health conditions. BMI percentile charts are useful in identifying these risks early on so that a proper intervention strategy can be designed to prevent chronic diseases later in life.

Limitations of Pediatric BMI

BMI is a useful screening tool but it has its limitations. For example BMI cannot distinguish between muscle mass and fat mass which means that very muscular children and adolescents may have a higher BMI without having excessive body fat. On the other hand children and adolescents with a healthy BMI may also have unhealthy body composition. Therefore it is recommended to use BMI percentiles in conjunction with other clinical evaluations to assess the overall health status of a child or an adolescent.

For adult body composition analysis you may want to use our Army Body Fat Calculator and FFMI Calculator.

FAQs About CDC Pediatric BMI Calculator

What is the healthy range for BMI percentile in children?

Healthy range for BMI percentile in children is between the 5th and the 85th percentile. A BMI below the 5th percentile indicates that a child is underweight while a BMI above the 95th percentile indicates obesity.

Why is BMI percentile used for calculating the weight status of children and adolescents?

Since the body composition of children and adolescents varies depending on their age and gender BMI percentiles are used to determine their weight status relative to their age and gender.

At what age should children start getting their BMI measured?

Children as young as 2 years can have their BMI measured. BMI can be used to assess the weight status of children and adolescents up to 19 years of age.

Is this BMI percentile calculator accurate?

This BMI percentile calculator is accurate because it uses the official CDC growth chart data to calculate your child's BMI percentile. However it is recommended to consult with a pediatrician to get an official diagnosis.

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized medical recommendations and treatment.