How come BMI is interpreted differently for children than adults?
BMI is calculated the same way for both adults and children. The calculation is based on mathematical formulas. For adults 20 years old and older, BMI is interpreted using standard weight status categories that are the same for all ages and for both men and women. For children and teens, the interpretation of BMI is both age- and sex-specific for two reasons: • The amount of body fat changes with age. • The amount of body fat differs between girls and boys. The CDC BMI-for-age growth charts take into account these differences and allow translation of a BMI number into a percentile for a child’s sex and age. For more information about interpretation for children and teens, visit Child and Teen BMI Calculator.
