Kids & Teens: BMI Uses Percentiles

For children and teenagers, BMI is interpreted using percentiles based on age and sex — not adult BMI cutoffs.

Why adult BMI categories don’t apply

Kids are growing. Body composition changes by age, and patterns differ between boys and girls. That’s why pediatric BMI uses percentile charts.

What you need to calculate pediatric BMI properly

  • Age (in months or exact age)
  • Sex
  • Height
  • Weight

Do not publish a “kids BMI calculator” with adult cutoffs

That’s misinformation. It will hurt trust and your site’s credibility. If you build the kids tool later, it must output percentile.

External resources (reputable)

Disclaimer: informational only. For concerns about a child’s growth or weight, consult a pediatric clinician.

If you want to rank

This page helps you capture “kids BMI” searches without lying. A wrong calculator will destroy trust.