BMI Calculator for Children and Teens

Deviations from the norm

All standards established by the Ministry of Health are only average indicators. Accordingly, if you see that your child is cheerful, active, eats well and plays, but is 1.5 kg less than the stated norm, then there is no reason to worry. However, if you notice that the increase in height over the year is less than 4 cm and less than 3 kg in weight, then this is a reason to consult a pediatrician.

The pediatrician will be able to examine the baby and suggest which specialist can help you in resolving this issue: a gastroenterologist, geneticist, neurologist or endocrinologist. Depending on the results of the examination, your baby may be prescribed a course of additional vitamins, changes in diet and lifestyle. In more serious cases, a course of treatment may be prescribed, which includes taking hormonal medications.

Height and weight from 11 to 18 years

At this age, the spectrum of norms is very wide for both boys and girls. The time of puberty in girls is characterized by the appearance of rounded shapes, when at the same time boys are still short and small. It is necessary to psychologically prepare the child for the changes occurring in his body. At this time, girls are strictly prohibited from dieting.

The weight of girls is from 11 to 18 years. WHO data. Table.

The height of girls is from 11 to 18 years. WHO data. Table.

The height of boys is from 11 to 18 years. WHO data. Table.

How to calculate body mass index?

To find out this indicator, you need to determine your weight (in kilograms) and measure your height (in meters). Then the number indicating the weight should be divided by the number obtained by squaring the digital expression of height. In other words, you need to use a formula that conveys the ratio of body weight to height:

BMI = M/P2

(M – body weight, P – height in meters)

For example, your weight is 64 kg, height is 165 cm, or 1.65 m. We substitute your data into the formula and get: BMI = 64: (1.65 x 1.65) = 26.99. Now you can turn to the official medical interpretation of BMI values:

The author of this formula is the Belgian scientist Adolphe Quetelet. True, he was not a physiologist, but a mathematician. Therefore, doctors have several complaints about its formula:

• it does not take into account the ratio of muscle and fat mass, so BMI will not be able to adequately reflect the health status of a bodybuilder engaged in building muscle potential: if he calculates the body mass index using Quetelet’s formula, the results will show him in the company of loose fat people;
• These calculations are not suitable for older people: for 60-70 year old pensioners, being somewhat overweight is not considered dangerous to health, so the BMI range for them can be expanded from 22 to 26.

If you are not an elderly person or a bodybuilder, then Quetelet’s formula will do a good job of assessing the balance of your parameters. The magnitude of the error in this case will not interfere with understanding whether you are normal or not.

It should be kept in mind that the medical community's understanding of normal BMI may change over time. This was already the case on the threshold of the third millennium, when the BMI recommended by doctors dropped from 27.8 to 25. But Israeli scientists have proven that a body mass index of 25-27 is optimal for men: with this index they are guaranteed the longest life expectancy.

Child development indicators

First of all, the physical development of the baby is assessed, the indicators of which are:

1. Child's weight. This indicator is very important for a baby. In the first days after birth, the baby normally loses a little weight, but then it should only gain. Typically, a baby will weigh twice its birth weight by 6 months of age and triple its weight by 12 months.
2. Baby's height, head and chest circumference. During the first year, the child grows in length by about 25-27 centimeters, while in the first months the baby grows especially actively, adding 3 cm in height, and in the second half of the year - only 1-2 cm every month.
3. Static and motor functions. The child's ability to hold his head up, grasp and hold objects, roll over, sit, crawl, stand on his feet, walk, and others are assessed.
4. Presence of teeth. The first teeth (incisors on the bottom) usually appear by 6 months of age. The normal number of teeth for a baby is calculated by subtracting the number 4 from the age in months. By the age of one year, most babies have cut 8 teeth.

The emotional and mental development of the baby is assessed according to the following indicators:

1. Baby's emotions. A one-month-old baby begins to smile, and at 3 months of age perks up when approached by an adult. The grown-up toddler shows more and more emotions, both negative and positive.
2. Speech development. The first sounds that the baby makes are grunting and sniffling, but by the end of the first month the baby begins to roar. As the baby grows, it first begins to babble and then utters its first words. By the age of one year, a baby's speech averages about ten words.
3. Manipulations with toys and games. At first, the baby grabs toys reflexively, but later begins to grab them purposefully. Growing up, the toddler studies their properties and learns different ways of playing.
4. Understanding words and intonation of adult speech begins at 6 months of age. The child begins to respond to the words of an adult if they are accompanied by gestures, recognizes his name, and finds familiar objects with his gaze in response to an adult’s question.

Body mass index for women

The greater the discrepancy between the body mass index and the norm, the greater the likelihood of obesity and poor health. It should be understood that BMI, taking into account age, may differ from the generally accepted one. Therefore, when analyzing a woman’s weight and height, age must also be taken into account.

Optimal body mass index for women based on age:

Detailed table of optimal weight for women based on age:

It is worth noting that to adjust BMI, in addition to age, individual anthropometry must be taken into account. Physiologists distinguish three body types:

A detailed table of weight taking into account body type is given in the next paragraph (body mass index according to Egorov-Levitsky).

How do standards help WHO fight childhood malnutrition?

Statistics constantly collected by WHO show that several million children die every year from malnutrition, and at least 20 million children worldwide are overweight. Also, these organizations confirm that malnutrition is the most common cause of death and health problems in infants.

The standards developed by WHO make it possible to assess and monitor children's nutrition, which is especially important in infancy and early childhood. By assessing the indicators of a certain contingent of children and comparing them with standards, trends and health risks are determined

This applies to both undernutrition and overnutrition of children.

Calculate your complementary feeding table

In the following WHO video you can learn the 5 key principles of safe nutrition.

Calculate your vaccination schedule

Body Mass Index and Obesity Calculator

To calculate body mass index (BMI), simply fill in the height and weight fields in the calculator. After clicking the “Calculate” button you will receive your index and its characteristics.

Body mass index BMI in the online calculator presented is calculated using the formula BMI (BMI) = m / h² , where m is body weight in kilograms; h - height in meters (centimeters are automatically converted to meters).

If the calculations are performed manually, then the following table can be used to interpret the values ​​of the calculated body mass indexes:

It is recommended to calculate body mass index using the above formula for men and women aged 20 to 65 years. The index is considered normal if the indicator is in the range of 20 - 22. For men, this indicator is 23 - 25. This BMI calculation is not suitable for children under 19 years of age, professional athletes, and pregnant women.

Calculation of body mass index BMI. Online calculator – Active lifestyle

On this page you will learn what body mass index and ideal body weight are, how to calculate BMI for women and men, and you can also use an online calculator to calculate BMI.

What is BMI?

If you need to calculate your BMI, you can go straight to the calculator.

Body mass index (BMI) is a value that allows us to assess whether a person’s weight is normal, overweight or underweight, and how much it deviates from the normal value.

BMI can be calculated using various formulas. The most popular of them remains the formula for calculating BMI, proposed about 150 years ago by the Belgian sociologist and statistician Adolf Ketele (Wikipedia). According to this formula, BMI is equal to the ratio of a person’s mass (in kilograms) to the square of his height (in centimeters).

BMI = weight/height2

One important thing to note is that this formula does not take into account body type. Both an obese person and a professional athlete can weigh 120 kg

Therefore, BMI is used more as an approximate estimate. However, if you have a normal amount of muscle mass, the BMI value will be quite fair.

At the end of this article there is an online BMI calculator that allows you to calculate your BMI using the Quetelet formula.

BMI table

The table shows BMI values ​​for calculation using the Quetelet formula.

How to calculate BMI taking into account age and gender? Ideal body weight

BMI is an approximate indicator that does not take into account gender and body type, and the dependence on age is also approximate (shown in the table above).

If you are interested in data that is closer to you, then you will be interested in another indicator - ideal body weight. Body mass index and ideal body weight have the same abbreviations (BMI), but they should not be confused. Mass index is a numerical indicator of your condition, ideal mass is your ideal weight in kilograms.

Devine formula

The most primitive and popularly known way to get your ideal weight is to subtract 100 from your height if you are a man, and 110 if you are a woman. But let's just say people change, and these days the old formula is no longer relevant.

One of the most accurate modern methods for determining ideal weight was described in 1974 by Dr. BJ Devine in his work “Gentamicin therapy.” It’s called the Devine method, or The Devine Formula.

Ideal body weight for a man = 50 + 2.3 x (0.394 x height - 60) Ideal body weight for a woman = 45.5 + 2.3 x (0.394 x height - 60)

Levitovsky table

And, again, Devine's formula doesn't take age into account. If you are interested in BMI taking into account age, then you can use the so-called “Levitovsky table”. This table contains data on the maximum permissible, i.e. "normal" body weight and is designed to help determine whether a person is overweight.

Online calculator for calculating BMI

Use this online calculator to calculate your BMI and determine your ideal body weight using the Devine formula

Attention! The calculator may not work in older browsers, use modern browsers Chrome, Safari, Opera or Firefox. In order for the calculation results to appear, change at least one of the values ​​in the input fields

Body Mass Index Calculator for Children and Teens

If an objective assessment is made, these figures will not be taken into account to determine whether the child's weight is within the normal range using BMI. Instead, the child's BMI is compared to the average of other children. This ensures that the developmental milestones experienced by children in certain age groups are taken into account. If a child has a higher body mass index than 97 percent of all children the same age, the child is considered overweight. BMI Calculator for Children and Teens is fast and free.

Child weight and height calculator

Up to one year of age, weight is the most important indicator of a baby’s health. The baby is weighed monthly by the pediatrician. In addition, the circumference of the chest and head is measured. All measurements are recorded in the medical record. Many factors are taken into account when determining normal development.

1. First of all, it is necessary to take into account the gender of the baby.
2. Birth weight is also taken into account.
3. Genetic predisposition is of great importance.
4. If dad and mom are large, then their baby will also be large.

Factors taken into account include what diseases the child suffered. These include: dehydration, intestinal infections, acute respiratory viral infections, teething and loss of appetite. Improper development of a child can occur due to congenital pathologies, other disorders or chromosomal diseases.

And also its development is influenced by the social conditions in which the baby grew up. The development of the baby is affected by its feeding: breast or artificial. If the baby was born with low weight or premature, then his weight table will differ from children with normal weight. Parents of children born with low birth weight note that the child’s gain for every 10 g is important to them. They take into account every millimeter that was added as the baby grew up.

Features of the first year of life

Based on the calculator, the average weight of a baby at birth is between 3.3 and 3.8 kg. In this case, the height and weight calculator is normal. The norms for children's weight and height must correspond to their proper development. For example, at birth a baby has a normal weight, then for 7 days he does not experience weight gain. But in the first days of life he loses a little body weight.

1. A newborn baby, depending on age according to the weight calculator, should gain at a subsequent pace: from the first to the third month, on average, he should add 750 g, from 4 to 6 months he should add 800 grams, from 7 to 9 months he should add 600 g .and from 10 to 12 per month he should add 350 g.
2. If a child is bottle-fed, he will gain weight faster. The baby's size varies depending on his weight, gender and overall physiological development. The baby's growth by month according to the calculator is distributed in the following order: from 1 to 3 months the baby will add approximately 3.5 cm, from 3 months to the 6th month the baby will add 2.7 cm. From 6 months to the 9th month the increase will be more than 2 cm, and From 9 to 12 months, the baby will gain about 1 cm every month.
3. The most intensive growth is observed in the child immediately after his birth. Further, the growth rate decreases slightly. By the end of the first year of life, the baby grows more and more slowly. According to the calculator, the normal weight indicator for a child of 1 g is equal to 9 to 9.7 kilograms.

The average height of a baby in 1 year is from 75 to 78 cm. The child’s weight is distributed by year depending on the calculator indicators. And if the indicators differ from the norm, then parents and doctors must find the cause of the deviations. As a rule, in the first year of life, the baby grows by about 30 cm. More such intensive growth will not be observed in any period of the baby’s life.

Children under one year of age are more sensitive to weight loss. If the child is underweight, the doctor may diagnose the following: eating disorder, anemia, immunodeficiency, rickets, central nervous system disorders and endocrine diseases. If a baby is periodically underweight, he may lag behind not only in physical, but also in psychological development. If the baby is breastfed, then you need to make sure that there is enough milk in the mother’s breast. If the mother’s lactation is impaired, then it is recommended to supplement the baby with formula.

Height and weight calculator

The child's height and weight calculator is a special program designed to determine the normal weight and height of a child in accordance with his age (from 0 to 12 years). In addition to currently existing parameters, the calculator allows you to predict future height and weight indicators. To do this, you need to fill in additional fields.

On a note. In each individual case, the baby’s development occurs individually, as a result of which the dynamics of growth and weight gain may differ from the average parameters.

To make sure that your baby is developing normally, it is useful to check the WHO standards from time to time and also get information about the projected figures. If the parents’ concerns about the child’s health are confirmed, it is necessary to find the cause of the deviations and select the appropriate method to eliminate the defect.

The result of calculations in the calculator is displayed in the following versions:

• According to centile tables;
• In the form of a ratio of the child’s weight and height.

For example, you can consider the following option. The boy's age is 9 years. The child’s height is 148 cm, weight – 33 kg. If you compare the obtained data with generally accepted standards presented in centile tables, you get:

• Height is high, since at the age of 9 years the norm is 126-136 cm;
• Weight is overweight, since the norm is within the range of 25.6-31.5 kg.

If we consider the boy’s weight in accordance with his height, then the indicator is low - normal body weight for a height of 148 cm is 35-38 kg.

So, the child’s weight is above average, while the boy’s height is even greater than the norm, therefore, the weight to a certain extent lags behind the growth parameters. Based on the centile tables, the child’s weight is excessive for the standard, but at the same time insufficient for the boy’s height.

Important! All data obtained using the calculator, including predicted figures, must be analyzed. If obvious deviations from the norm are observed, you should consult a doctor for advice.

The method for using the online application is as follows:

1. Select the gender and age of the baby. The program will display the parameters that the child must meet according to the generally established standard.
2. Click "Calculate".
3. Measure the child's height and weight.
4. Compare the result with the calculator parameters.

Interesting. The weight of a newborn is the main indicator that determines the baby’s vital activity. This is why babies in the maternity hospital are weighed every morning. The normal weight of a newborn should be between 2.5-4.5 kg. Inconsistency with the lower limit indicates malnutrition, which can be caused by serious developmental disorders. Exceeding the upper limit indicates that the baby is overweight; in this case, it is recommended to change the feeding regimen.

Modern standards for child development are based on the fact that breastfeeding is a biological norm. The standard is a healthy full-term baby who has no weight problems and is on breastfeeding. The previous standards, unlike the new ones, were based on the parameters of children who were both breastfed and bottle-fed.

To establish standards, experts examined about 9 thousand babies who met all the necessary parameters. The data obtained was used to plot the weight and height of children aged 0 to 10 years and by gender.

The calculator for determining the parameters of a child looks like this

Child details

To get the initial data to check them in the calculator, you need to correctly measure the child’s height and weight. To determine height indicators at home, you can use a measuring tape or a stadiometer. The child is placed barefoot on the floor with his back to the ruler. It is important that the baby stands straight, his arms are lowered along the body, his knees are straightened, and his feet are shifted. The child's head should be positioned so that the edge of the lower eyelid and the upper edge of the ear are in line. During the procedure, the baby should touch the plane with his heels, buttocks and shoulder blades.

An anthropometer is also used to determine the child's height. During the procedure, the doctor asks the baby to stand up straight and turn his right shoulder towards him. The device is placed vertically in front of the child. The bar with the scale is held with the right hand, the measuring ruler is moved with the left. As a result, the value located at the top edge of the ruler is considered. The error is approximately 1 mm.

Good to know. If you need to determine the body length of a small child, then you need to use a stadiometer for infants. In this case, measurements are taken in a lying position. After 2 years, height is measured in a standing position.

If we talk about body weight, then this parameter is determined using scales. It is best to use electronic scales for this. The child must stand on the central part of the device during the measurement process. The position in which the baby is (sitting, lying or standing) during the procedure depends on age.

On a note. If a baby is weighed in a diaper, then the weight of the diaper is subtracted from the result obtained. Measurements are taken in the morning, when the child has not yet eaten, but has already gone to the toilet.

Measuring the body length of a baby at the age of several months

Result and evaluation

Using the calculator, you can determine normal weight, height, BMI in accordance with the child’s age, and also get an analysis of the identified indicators. The result could be as follows:

• Very low;
• Reduced;
• Below the average;
• Moderate;
• Above average;
• High;
• Elevated.

A very low growth rate indicates a significant developmental delay and (often) the presence of extra pounds. In this case, a medical examination is required to determine the cause and further treatment.

A low rate indicates a slight developmental delay, which can also lead to excess weight. A visit to a specialist is recommended. Below average means within the normal range. Average is the most common value, which is typical for healthy children.

The figure above average is also within the normal range. High is rarely determined and most often has a hereditary nature. It is not a sign of developmental disabilities.

A very high growth rate may be the norm if the parents have similar parameters. In other cases, such a result indicates an endocrine disorder, then it is advisable to visit a doctor.

As for weight, determining this parameter does not allow an objective assessment of the child’s development. However, indicators such as very low or elevated indicate a deviation and are a reason to visit a doctor.

The calculator estimates look like this:

• Very low - indicates the likelihood of exhaustion of the body. Medical attention is required;
• If the indicators are low, exhaustion is also possible;
• Below average - within the normal range, but it is advisable to reconsider the diet and diet;
• Medium – optimal value for healthy children;
• Above average - within normal limits, however, it is recommended to carry out an assessment taking into account the child’s BMI; the calculator will do an excellent job of this task;
• Increased – also requires a BMI assessment.

The baby's weight can change under the influence of various factors, which include:

1. Heredity;
2. Malnutrition;
3. Low quality food;
4. Stress (in mother or child);
5. Bad ecology;
6. Mother's smoking.

The listed factors most often lead to malnutrition, with the exception of the first - heredity can cause both lack of weight and its excess to an equal extent.

Other reasons:

1. Energy imbalance. Occurs as a result of receiving more or less calories than the body needs.
2. Internal pathologies. The most common reason is a change in hormonal levels, which leads to metabolic disorders.
3. Gender (boys weigh more than girls: 3.2-3.5 kg and 3.0-3.25, respectively).
4. Pregnant health.
5. Quality of nutrition of a pregnant woman.
6. Control of the gestation process. It is important to do an ultrasound in a timely manner to check the health of the baby in the womb.
7. Binge eating. It is a consequence of excessive feeding, when the baby is forced to eat against his desire.

On a note. According to centile tables, normal values ​​for a healthy full-term baby are from “below average” to “above average.” The weight of the baby at birth is not as important as the same indicator in terms of its correspondence to the gestational age.

The result of the calculations in the calculator may look like this

What determines the height and weight standards of a child?

Of course, the development of each child is individual, children can be appetizing chubby or thin reeds, but still, it was not for nothing that the World Health Organization came up with and approved some standards for height and weight. Moreover, the ratio of these indicators can indicate the correct and harmonious physical development of the child.

Most often, the baby’s height and weight parameters depend on the following factors:

• What type of feeding was (is) the child being given – breast or bottle-fed;
• The amount of food consumed at the moment;
• Congenital or hereditary diseases (for example, problems with the heart, gastrointestinal tract, thyroid gland);
• Gender of the child;
• Child's physical activity.

In the first months of life, the little person actively gains weight and increases in height. These two parameters may increase disproportionately, but if the deviations are insignificant compared to the WHO parameters, and nothing bothers the child, he is active and eats well, then there is no need to worry. In addition, we must not forget about heredity, because if at least one of the parents is tall or overweight, then the child has every chance of becoming a “bummer”.

But serious deviations from the norms of weight and height should be discussed with a doctor. The reasons can be either temporary difficulties (for example, a cold) or more serious disorders (endocrine diseases, congenital defects).

What are the WHO standards for weight and height?

The harmonious development of a baby is determined not only by height or weight, but most likely by their ratio. So. generally accepted standards for a newborn are weight indicators from 2400 g to 4300 (the first value is the minimum for a girl, the second is the maximum for a boy).

In the first week of life, the baby loses weight by about 7% of the initial weight (adaptation to the external environment occurs), so parents should not worry, as this is a normal physiological process.

In general, in the first 6 months of life, the baby should gain monthly from 650 to 800 g of weight, as active growth and strengthening of the body occurs.

Well, after 6 months and up to a year, the baby gains 350-600 g monthly.

How to calculate the normal weight and height of a child - formula

To calculate the optimal weight of a child from birth to 6 months, use the formula:

m + 800 * N, where m is the weight of the child at the time of birth (kg), N is the number of months during the calculation period.

After six months, the formula for calculating weight norms changes:

m + 800 * 6 + 400 * (N-6), where m is the weight of the child at the time of birth (kg), (800 * 6) is the weight that the child should ideally acquire in the first six months, N is the number of months after six months.

BMI for Children and Teens

Abbreviated primarily as BMI, Body Mass Index is a measure that helps judge a Person's body weight. To calculate this, Weight is divided by Height multiplied by itself. The resulting Value does not include the proportion of associated tissue types and Height, so inaccuracies and misconceptions may occur if you use the Body Mass Index as your sole assessment measure. For example, athletes often have a high BMI without being overweight. However, BMI is accurate in adults as a meaningful indicator of body weight that can be used to classify underweight, normal weight, or overweight.

In children and adolescents, however, assessment is even more difficult than in adults because there are large individual differences in development. In addition to Height and Weight, therefore, we must also use Age and Gender. The obtained data are compared with the average data of children of the same age and gender. Children whose BMI is higher than 97% of their peers of the same sex are obese, children belonging to the 3% with a low BMI are underweight. However, since growth phases can be very different in children and can be compared with each other, it is therefore always necessary to consult a pediatrician to assess weight and possible negative effects.

Prevention of excess weight and obesity

Exercise and proper nutrition can prevent obesity. If a 5-year-old child eats more than 500 calories per meal, then he needs intense sports activities or play outdoor games at home, ride a bike for an hour, several times a day. At the present stage, there are a lot of ready-made foods that contain a high amount of calories. Children love to eat various unhealthy foods, they are delicious. As a result, excess weight often appears. It negatively affects the functioning of the brain, muscles, nervous system, and internal organs. To stay healthy and vigorous longer, you need to eat right and move more. Children always follow the example of their parents; if close relatives suffer from excess weight, then there is a high probability that the children will be the same.

Standards and measurements

Height

Measuring the body length of an infant is carried out using a centimeter tape. The baby is placed on a table or bed so that his head rests against the side. Having straightened the baby's legs, mark a line under the heels and measure the distance from the side to this line. The height of an older child is determined using a stadiometer.

Growth of girls from birth to 5 years:

Girls' height from 5 to 19 years:

Boys' height from birth to 5 years:

Boys' height from 5 to 19 years:

Weight

Weighing of newborns and children up to one year is carried out on special children's scales. For reliability, the child must be undressed, and the weight of the diaper, which lies on the scales, is subtracted from the resulting indicator.

Girls' weight from birth to 5 years:

Weight of girls from 5 to 10 years:

Boys' weight from birth to 5 years:

Weight of boys from 5 to 10 years:

Head circumference

For measurements, a measuring tape 150 cm long is used, on which there are divisions in millimeters. In front, the tape (its zero division) is applied along the most convex part of the forehead above the eyebrows. After this, you need to wrap it around your head, starting from the right temporal region. Further from behind, it should touch the back of the head, move to the left temporal region and return to the forehead.

Head circumference of girls from birth to 5 years:

Head circumference of boys from birth to 5 years:

Shoulder circumference

This parameter is determined using a rubberized measuring tape, the length of which is 1.5 meters. This tape has millimeter divisions for measurement accuracy. The shoulder is measured in two states - relaxed and maximally tense. First, determine the circumference of the shoulder with the right arm lowered down by placing the tape on the thickest part of the biceps muscle. Next, the arm should be bent at the elbow and the muscles should be tensed as much as possible, and then the measurement should be repeated. The difference between the data obtained will indicate the degree of muscle development.

Shoulder circumference in girls from 3 months to 5 years:

Shoulder circumference in boys from 3 months to 5 years:

Thickness of the skin fold under the shoulder blade

The measurement of this parameter is used to determine the percentage of body fat. Since a special caliper device is used for measurement, determining the thickness of the fold is also called caliperometry. The skin is pinched slightly below any shoulder blade so that the resulting fold runs at 45° to the vertical line. In this case, the fold should be directed downwards from the spine to the side of the body.

Thickness of the skin fold under the shoulder blade in girls from 3 months to 5 years:

Thickness of the skin fold under the shoulder blade in boys from 3 months to 5 years:

Thickness of the skin fold over the triceps

The thickness of the skin fold over the triceps characterizes the percentage of body fat.

To measure, the child must lower his arms. At the midpoint between the acromion process of the scapula and the olecranon process of the ulna, the skin is pulled back by pinching the tissue between the thumb and index finger. A caliper is placed in the middle of the distance between the beginning and end of the skin fold. The skin is not released, and after 2 seconds the thickness of the fold is measured with an accuracy of half a millimeter. Measurements are usually carried out 3-4 times, and then the average value is calculated (the values ​​should not differ by more than 1 mm.)

The thickness of the skin fold over the triceps in girls from 3 months to 5 years:

Thickness of the skin fold over the triceps in boys from 3 months to 5 years:

How is body mass index (BMI) calculated and what does it show?

Body mass index helps assess whether a person's weight is appropriate for their height, thereby determining whether they are normal, overweight, or underweight.

BMI of girls from birth to 5 years:

BMI of girls from 5 to 19 years:

BMI of boys from birth to 5 years:

BMI of boys from 5 to 19 years:

BMI or body mass index

To more accurately assess the development of children, more complex formulas are usually used, or rather body mass index (BMI), which takes into account not only the weight, but also the height of the child. True, this index cannot be calculated for children under 2 years of age. For such children, experts have created special centile tables. As for older children, their BMI can be calculated using the formula:

I = m/(d*d),

where I is BMI, m is body weight in kg, d is height in meters.

The result of the calculations must be found in special tables, where it will be indicated whether the index corresponds to the norm or whether there are deviations. In the latter case, it is advisable to consult a pediatric doctor. It is worth noting that the data in the tables is divided not only by age, but also by gender of the child. For example, the normal ITM for boys and girls (respectively) of different ages is as follows:

• 2-3 years – 16.3 / 16.5;
• 4-5 years – 15.6 / 16.0;
• 6-7 years – 15.2 / 15.1;
• 8-9 years – 15.8 / 15.8;
• 10-11 years – 16.5 / 16.8;
• 12-13 years old – 17.8 / 18.0;
• 14-15 years old – 19.2 / 19.1.

Risks of deviation from normal body weight

A downward deviation in body weight or BMI in children is usually associated with a disturbance in the gastrointestinal tract or an incorrectly formulated diet for the child.

With excess weight the situation is somewhat more complicated. Firstly, these deviations may be due to genetic predisposition. Secondly, the problem may again be an incorrect diet, i.e. eating large amounts of high-calorie and fatty foods. Thirdly, low physical activity often leads to excess weight, which is a fairly typical phenomenon for modern children.

In addition, excess weight can be an external manifestation of the development of quite serious diseases. Therefore, if your body weight or BMI deviates more from the norm, you should definitely visit a doctor.

What a child should be able to do: table by age

How to correctly assess weight gain

It is recommended to weigh the child monthly until at least 12 months and weekly until the age of 4-5 months. The measurement results should be recorded respectively in two tables: monthly and weekly weight gain.

Monthly measurements are performed at intervals of 30-31 days, a deviation of 1-2 days is allowed.

Weekly weigh-ins are carried out at strict intervals of 7 days. If there is a deviation of 1-2 days in the measurements, then the corresponding norm should be reduced or increased by the number of grams per 1 day of the captured or excluded period.

If the baby’s weight gain goes beyond the limits indicated in the tables, then you and your local doctor have something to pay attention to. The greatest danger is posed by reduced weight gain rather than increased

This does not always mean there is a problem, but it is important that your doctor perform a thorough diagnosis.

If the weight gain turns out to be half the lower limit of normal, then it is recommended to consult a good doctor for an extensive diagnosis.

When weight gain is zero or negative, you should definitely consult a doctor as soon as possible. If, with such indicators, the local doctor gives only recommendations on feeding and nothing else, then this is a reason to turn to another doctor, more competent.

Weight loss = dehydration

Weight loss (negative weight gain) is almost always a sign of dehydration, which in itself poses a very serious danger for infants and can develop rapidly. In turn, dehydration is often the only outward sign of an invisible disease that is the root cause of the problem and also poses a serious threat if left untreated.

Therefore, when detecting weight loss, just like with low weight gain, it is necessary:

1. Fight dehydration;
2. Seek medical help to identify and treat the underlying condition.

Pay attention to the main signs of dehydration: thirst, lethargy, drowsiness, irritability, dry mucous membranes, concentrated urine, decreased diuresis (urination), pale gray skin. Infants cannot report thirst, and sometimes do not experience it at all

Hope remains only for your attention. If dehydration occurs, the child should be given water to drink, sometimes forcibly. If dehydration is caused by vomiting and/or diarrhea, it is recommended to drink it with a special solution for “oral rehydration” (sold in pharmacies in powder form).

Weight loss and dehydration do not occur out of the blue, so if these signs are detected, you must urgently seek quality medical help, get tested and look for a hidden disease. If the cause of weight loss and dehydration is found or obvious, then fluid loss must be continued until weight and well-being return to normal.

Assessment of weight gain after illness

If during the assessed period the child suffered from a disease, for example, an acute respiratory infection or acute respiratory viral infection, then this must be taken into account when analyzing weight gain. During any illness, weight gain decreases significantly or stops altogether. The reasons are obvious: the child refuses to eat, all the body’s forces are thrown into fighting the disease. Therefore, when assessing weight gain for such a period, weight should be subtracted from the norm in proportion to the number of days in the acute phase of the disease.

Weight correction after deviations

The weight gain of each healthy child usually follows its own schedule, which fits within the norms. It often happens that a child, due to illness, begins to lag behind his natural schedule, but after recovery he gradually catches up until his weight reaches his personal norm. In such cases, the weight gain may differ from the norm in a larger direction, but this will be a good sign.

In other words, if a child is underweight, then it is recommended that he catch up with the schedule, which means he can demonstrate increased weight gain of one and a half to two times more than normal.

If the baby is critically overfed (to the point of obesity), then the range of optimal weight gain for him can be reduced by one and a half times, so that his weight slowly returns to normal.

Understanding these features and focusing on weight gain norms, you can adjust nutrition so that the child’s weight returns to the optimal range.

Table of BMI norms for girls under 19 years of age according to WHO:

If there is a significant deviation of BMI from the norm, it is recommended that the child be examined by a specialist.