Slide 3 of 39
Notes:
- Body Mass Index (BMI) is an anthropometric index of weight and height that is defined as body weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. BMI is the commonly accepted index for classifying adiposity in adults and it is recommended for use with children and adolescents.
- Like weight-for-height, BMI is a screening tool used to identify individuals who are underweight or overweight. BMI is not a diagnostic tool. For example, a child who is relatively heavy may have a high BMI for his or her age or high weight-for-stature. To determine whether the child has excess fat or is overweight, further assessment is needed that might include triceps skinfold measurements, assessments of diet, health, and physical activity.
- BMI is gender specific for children. Furthermore, whereas a fixed BMI cutoff is used for adults, for children, because BMI changes substantially as they get older, BMI-for-age is the measure used for ages 2 to 20 years.
