What Every Parent Should Know About BMI
As children grow and their bodies change, it's not always easy for parents to tell if a child falls within a
healthy weight range. Body mass index, or BMI for short, is a way of describing height and weight in one
number that can help tell if someone's weight is is in a healthy range. Your child's BMI can help you
determine if he is at risk for health problems based on his weight.
The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend BMI screenings for all kids age 2 and older.
Here's what you need to know about checking on your child's BMI and what to do with the info once you
have it.
What is BMI for Kids?
BMI estimates how much body fat you have. Calculating a child's BMI number starts out just like calculating
an adult's BMI. It's based on height and weight. But for kids, height and weight alone aren't as accurate as
they are for adults. Why? Because kids' body fat percentages change as they grow. Kids' BMIs vary based
on their age and gender.
That's why when health care professionals talk about a child's BMI, you won't usually hear a plain BMI
number, like 25, but rather a BMI percentile, like 75th. These BMI percentiles show how a child's BMI
compares to other children of the same age and gender. To calculate the BMI percentile -- which is also
called "BMI for age" -- a health care provider or an online tool like WebMD’s FIT Kids BMI Calculator takes a
kid's BMI (along with age and gender) and looks it up on a pediatric growth curve. This gives the child's BMI
percentile.
BMI percentiles are grouped into weight categories:

Underweight: below the 5th percentile

Healthy Weight: 5th percentile up to the 85th percentile

Overweight: 85th percentile up to the 95th percentile

Obese: 95th percentile or higher
So, for example, a 6-year-old boy with a 75th percentile BMI has a higher BMI than 75 out of 100 6-year-old
boys. And though you may think that means he is heavy, he is considered a healthy weight.
Talking With Your Pediatrician About BMI for Kids
Many parents assume that if their child had a high BMI, their pediatrician would tell them. But that's not
necessarily the case. Sometimes pediatricians may not bring up weight issues with parents. So if you're
interested in your child's BMI percentile, it's best to ask directly.
Some school districts have started to measure all children's BMIs in school. The school then sends home a
BMI report card to alert parents to any weight issues. Although some parents don't like the idea of schools
sending report cards with their child's BMI, experts say that the point is not to embarrass anyone. It's to let
parents know about a health problem with serious consequences.
Studies from the U.K. show that children's BMI report cards can work. One study found that after getting a
BMI report, about 50% of the parents with overweight children made some healthy changes to their lifestyle.
2 to 20 years: Girls
Body mass index-for-age percentiles
Date
Age
Weight
Stature
NAME
RECORD #
Comments
BMI*
BMI
35
34
97
33
32
31
95
30
29
BMI
28
90
27
27
26
26
85
25
25
24
24
75
23
23
22
22
50
21
21
20
20
25
19
19
10
18
18
3
17
17
16
16
15
15
14
14
13
13
12
12
kg/m
2
2
AGE (YEARS)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Published May 30, 2000 (modified 10/16/00).
SOURCE: Developed by the National Center for Health Statistics in collaboration with
the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2000).
http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts
kg/m
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2 to 20 years: Boys
Body mass index-for-age percentiles
Date
Age
Weight
Stature
NAME
RECORD #
Comments
BMI*
BMI
35
34
33
32
97
31
30
95
29
28
BMI
90
27
27
85
26
26
25
25
75
24
24
23
23
50
22
22
21
21
25
20
20
10
19
19
3
18
18
17
17
16
16
15
15
14
14
13
13
12
12
kg/m
2
2
AGE (YEARS)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Published May 30, 2000 (modified 10/16/00).
SOURCE: Developed by the National Center for Health Statistics in collaboration with
the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2000).
http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts
kg/m
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parent tips
Calories Needed Each Day
It’s important to know the number of
calories you need to eat to stay healthy.
Do you know how many calories you
and your family need each day?
How many calories you need each day—ENERGY IN—
depends on a few things:
• Your age
• Whether you are male or female
• How active you are
The tables on the next pages show the calories needed
each day for boys and men, and for girls and women.
They are split by age and three levels of activity.
not
active
Not Active—Not much ENERGY OUT. Does only light
activity needed for daily life. For instance, cooking or
walking to the mailbox.
Somewhat Active—Some ENERGY OUT. Does
physical activity equal to walking quickly for 1 ½ to 3
miles (about 30–40 minutes) each day. Plus, does light
activity needed for daily life.
Very Active—A lot of ENERGY OUT. Does physical
activity equal to walking quickly for more than 3 miles
each day (more than 40 minutes). Plus, does light
activity needed for daily life.
somewhat
active
very
active
These tables give you an idea of how much ENERGY IN your family members need.
The amount of calories needed differs by age based on the level of regular physical activity. That’s why the tables
give a range of calories for some age groups.
• For children, more calories are needed at older ages.
• For adults, fewer calories are needed at older ages.
Calories Needed Each Day for Boys and Men
Age
Not Active
Somewhat Active
Very Active
2–3 years
1,000–1,200 calories
1,000–1,400 calories
1,000–1,400 calories
4–8 years
1,200–1,400 calories
1,400–1,600 calories
1,600–2,000 calories
9–13 years
1,600–2,000 calories
1,800–2,200 calories
2,000–2,600 calories
14–18 years
2,000–2,400 calories
2,400–2,800 calories
2,800–3,200 calories
19–30 years
2,400–2,600 calories
2,600–2,800 calories
3,000 calories
31–50 years
2,200–2,400 calories
2,400–2,600 calories
2,800–3,000 calories
51 years and older
2,000–2,200 calories
2,200–2,400 calories
2,400–2,800 calories
production note: second side Calories Needed Each Day
Calories Needed Each Day for Girls and Women
Age
Not Active
Somewhat Active
Very Active
2–3 years
1,000 calories
1,000–1,200 calories
1,000–1,400 calories
4–8 years
1,200–1,400 calories
1,400–1,600 calories
1,400–1,800 calories
9–13 years
1,400–1,600 calories
1,600–2,000 calories
1,800–2,200 calories
14–18 years
1,800 calories
2,000 calories
2,400 calories
19–30 years
1,800–2,000 calories
2,000–2,200 calories
2,400 calories
31–50 years
1,800 calories
2,000 calories
2,200 calories
51 years and older
1,600 calories
1,800 calories
2,000–2,200 calories
Source: HHS/USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010
We Can! is a program from the National Institutes of Health that offers resources for parents, caregivers and communities to
help children 8-13 years old stay at a healthy weight through eating right, increasing physical activity, and reducing screen time.
To learn more, go to http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov or call 1-866-35-WECAN.
We Can! Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition, We Can!, and the We Can! logos are registered trademarks
of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS).
10
tips
Nutrition
Education Series
be a healthy
role model for children
10 tips for setting good examples
You are the most important influence on your child. You can do many things to help your children
develop healthy eating habits for life. Offering a variety of foods helps children get the nutrients they need from
every food group. They will also be more likely to try new foods and to like more foods. When children develop a
taste for many types of foods, it’s easier to plan family meals. Cook together, eat together, talk together, and make
mealtime a family time!
1
2
show by example
Eat vegetables, fruits, and whole grains with meals or
as snacks. Let your child see that you like to munch
on raw vegetables.
go food shopping together
3
Grocery shopping can teach
your child about food and nutrition. Discuss where vegetables, fruits,
grains, dairy, and protein foods
come from. Let your children make healthy choices.
get creative in the kitchen
Cut food into fun and easy shapes with cookie cutters. Name a food your child helps make. Serve “Janie’s
Salad” or “Jackie’s Sweet Potatoes” for dinner. Encourage
your child to invent new snacks. Make your own trail mixes
from dry whole-grain, low-sugar cereal and dried fruit.
4
offer the same foods for everyone
Stop being a “short-order cook” by
making different dishes to please
children. It’s easier to plan family meals
when everyone eats the same foods.
5
reward with attention, not food
Show your love with hugs and kisses. Comfort with hugs and talks. Choose not to offer sweets as rewards.
It lets your child think sweets or dessert foods are better than
other foods. When meals are not eaten, kids do not need
“extras”—such as candy or cookies—as replacement foods.
6
focus on each other at the table
Talk about fun and happy
things at mealtime. Turn
off the television. Take phone
calls later. Try to make eating
meals a stress-free time.
7
listen to your child
If your child says he or she is hungry, offer a small,
healthy snack—even if it is not a scheduled time to eat.
Offer choices. Ask “Which would you like for dinner: broccoli
or cauliflower?” instead of “Do you want broccoli for dinner?”
8
9
limit screen time
Allow no more than 2 hours a day of screen time like
TV and computer games. Get up and move during
commercials to get some physical activity.
encourage physical activity
Make physical activity fun for the
whole family. Involve your children
in the planning. Walk, run, and play
with your child—instead of sitting on
the sidelines. Set an example by being
physically active and using safety gear,
like bike helmets.
10
be a good food role model
Try new foods yourself. Describe its taste,
texture, and smell. Offer one new food at a time.
Serve something your child likes along with the new food.
Offer new foods at the beginning of a meal, when your child
is very hungry. Avoid lecturing or forcing your child to eat.
United States
Department of Agriculture
Center for Nutrition
Policy and Promotion
Go to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov for more information.
DG TipSheet No. 12
June 2011
USDA is an equal opportunity
provider and employer.