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Body Mass Index

About Body Mass Index

Body mass index, or BMI, is a measurement that calculates weight in relationship to height and is considered a reliable indicator of body fat. For adults (age 20 and older), BMI breakdowns are as follows:

BMI for children and young adults aged 2 to 20 is measured by a gender and age specific charting system known as BMI-for-age. BMI-for-age is expressed in terms of percentiles.

• Underweight – less than 5th percentile
• Normal – 5th percentile to 84th percentile
• At risk of overweight – 85th percentile to 94th percentile
• Overweight – 95th percentile or higher