These days, one keeps hearing about body mass index in every other health article. Is body mass index or BMI the correct parameter for measuring good health? How are BMI and your child’s health related? Let’s understand what is BMI and how it affects your child’s health.

BMI is a measure of your body’s fat levels based on your height and weight. Calculating your child’s BMI can help you know whether your child is growing up in a healthy way. Periodic calculation of BMI is important, as an abrupt increase or drop in BMI can be a matter of concern. Children go through growth spurts, which leads to sudden weight gain. By calculating the BMI of their children, parents can know whether the weight gain is a cause for concern.

According to kidshealth.org, “A more muscular child might have a higher weight and BMI but not have too much body fat. A smaller child could have an ideal BMI, but might have less muscle and too much body fat. Also, it's very common for children to gain weight quickly — and see the BMI go up — during puberty. Because of these and other considerations, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor if you have questions about whether you are at your ideal weight.”

It is always best to leave matters related to children’s BMI to experts. Scientists have come up with a different method for measuring BMI in children. It is called BMI-for-age. Your child’s doctor can measure her BMI and explain what it means with regard to her health. He can tell you whether your child’s BMI is normal or is a pointer to some health issues.

You can learn more about BMI by referring to the resources in this ClipBook.