Tools for Calculating Body Mass Index (BMI)

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a tool for indicating weight status in adults and for assessing children and teens who are underweight, overweight, and risk for overweight.

For adults older than 20, BMI is a measure of body weight adjusted for height.

BMI for children and teens (2 to 20 years old) is calculated differently than adult BMI. Also called "BMI-for-age," measurements are gender and age specific, due to a child's rate of growth and development.

• The children's BMI-percentile-for-age calculator from The Children's Nutrition Research Center automatically adjusts for differences in height, age, and gender, making it a good tool for evaluating a growing child's weight.
• These calculators are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
  • Adult BMI Calculator
  • Child and Teen BMI Calculator
  • Tools for Calculating BMI