Overview
Body mass index (BMI) is a common measure used to calculate a person's body weight in relation to their height. It is used to classify weight into different categories, including underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity.
However, BMI charts for children are quite different from those for adults because children's bodies are still developing and growing. Let’s delve into the BMI charts for both kids and adults, how BMI is calculated, and more.
BMI Chart for Kids
The table below reflects the BMI range for kids across different categories. Parents need to check this chart thoroughly:
BMI Range | BMI Category |
Below the 5th percentile | Underweight |
5th to less than the 85th percentile | Normal Weight |
85th to less than the 95th percentile | Overweight |
95th percentile or higher | Obese |
120% of the 95th percentile or higher, or 35 kg/m2 or higher | Severe Obesity |
BMI Chart for Adults
The body mass index (BMI) does not distinguish between male, female, and intersex bodies. Check out the table below to get a better idea about the BMI range for adults as per their weight category:
BMI Range | Classification |
Severe Underweight | less than 16.5 |
Underweight | less than 18.5 |
Healthy Weight | 18.5–24.9 |
Overweight | 25.0–29.9 |
Obesity Class I | 30.0–34.9 |
Obesity Class II | 35.0–39.9 |
Obesity Class III | 40 or higher |
What is the Difference Between Measuring BMI for Adults and Kids?
Although the method of calculating BMI is the same for adults and children, there are significant differences in interpreting and using the outcomes:
● Age and Gender Factors for Children: Contrary to adults, the BMI for kids and adolescents is calculated based on their age and gender. This is due to differences in body composition and the distribution of fat as children mature. The same BMI measurement might reflect different health conditions at various ages or across different genders.
● BMI-for-Age Charts for Children: In children, BMI is graphed on age-based and sex-specific growth charts. These enable health professionals to assess if a child is within a healthy weight category relative to others of the same gender and age. Conversely, adult BMI categories are not based on age or gender.
● Changing Weight Ranges in Children: In contrast to adults, whose BMI measurements fall into specific ranges (underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obese), children's BMI ranges change as they mature and grow older. A child's BMI may change suddenly within months or years, and thus, it is important to check frequently for changes.
● Growth and Development Variability: Kids grow at varying levels, which affects body fat percentage. For instance, a child could have a healthy weight in a certain year and can belong to a different category the following year based on their developmental phase. Meanwhile, BMI in adults tends to stay the same unless one undergoes some major weight loss or gain.
What is the Problem with the BMI Chart?
Body mass index (BMI) is a commonly used tool for measuring body weight in relation to height. However, it comes with several limitations when it comes to actually representing general health. Some of the major problems with BMI include:
● Not Accounting for Muscle Mass: BMI does not distinguish between muscle and fat, which can result in misclassification, particularly in the case of athletes or muscular types.
● Ethnic and Genetic Factors Ignored: BMI charts do not consider variation in body composition due to ethnicity or genetics, which reduces their accuracy in heterogeneous populations.
● Not a Complete Health Indicator: While BMI may draw attention to weight concerns, it does not address muscle mass, bone density, or fitness levels.
● Ignores Social and Economic Context: It ignores important influences like socioeconomic status, availability of healthy food, and cultural eating habits, which can all impact weight and health.
● Potential for Misleading Diagnoses: Using body mass index (BMI) alone can result in incorrect health conclusions. For instance, athletes or individuals with high muscle mass can get high BMI readings, even while having a low body fat percentage.
In a nutshell, BMI gives an overall idea of a person's health status based on their weight and height. For kids, BMI has to be assessed relative to growth charts based on age and gender, whereas, for adults, it provides a complete classification of the weight status.
However, due to certain negative points of BMI, some additional factors need to be taken into consideration while determining health conditions. If you have obesity-based issues that can lead to chronic illness in future, it is always sensible to take a comprehensive mediclaim policy.
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