Pediatric BMI Calculator
Calculate body mass index for children and adolescents using age, sex, height, and weight.
What is Pediatric BMI?
Pediatric BMI is a child’s body mass index calculated from height and weight. Unlike adults, BMI in children is interpreted using age- and sex-specific percentile charts.
How is BMI interpreted in children?
Pediatric BMI should be compared with BMI-for-age growth charts. In general, underweight is below the 5th percentile, healthy weight is the 5th to less than 85th percentile, overweight is the 85th to less than 95th percentile, and obesity is at or above the 95th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pediatric BMI is a child’s body mass index calculated from weight and height. In children, the result should be interpreted using age and sex, not adult BMI cutoffs alone.
Yes. In children and adolescents, BMI is usually compared with BMI-for-age growth charts and percentiles specific to age and sex.
Underweight is usually below the 5th percentile, healthy weight is the 5th to less than 85th percentile, overweight is the 85th to less than 95th percentile, and obesity is at or above the 95th percentile.
No. This tool gives an educational BMI estimate only. Formal assessment should use pediatric BMI-for-age percentile charts and clinical evaluation.