Body Mass Index Calculator

Health professionals measure whether a person is overweight or obese using a calculation that takes into account that person’s height and weight. It’s called the Body Mass Index (BMI).

An adult is considered overweight if his or her BMI is 25 or higher, and obese if the BMI is 30 or higher. But with children, physicians also take age into consideration, since body fat changes as kids grow. A 2-year-old with a BMI of 19.3 would be considered overweight, for example, as would a 9-year-old with a BMI of 21 or a 13-year-old with a BMI of 25.1.

Overweight refers to excess weight in relation to height. But it may or may not be due to excess body fat; an increase in lean muscle, in athletes for example, can also qualify as “overweight.”

To calculate an adult BMI, click here. But consult your pediatrician when trying to determine if your child is overweight.

Return to our Special Report on Overweight Children.

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