Body mass index (BMI) for age percentile is a measure of how much body fat a child has compared to other children of the same age and sex. It is calculated by dividing the child’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters. The result is then plotted on a growth chart, which shows the child’s BMI percentile.
BMI for age percentile is an important tool for screening children for overweight and obesity. It can also be used to track a child’s growth and development over time. BMI for age percentile was developed in the 1970s by the National Center for Health Statistics. It is now used by healthcare providers around the world.