Ideal Weight Chart for Children

Child obesity is a growing concern in many parts of the world. With BMI calculators and growth charts, it is easy to see if your child is at a healthy weight.

How to Calculate BMI

There are dozens of BMI calculators and growth charts on the Internet which list height, weight and age. They then use these numbers to calculate if a person is underweight, overweight or healthy. A healthy BMI is usually between 18 and 26. The BMI of children and teens is calculated differently than that of adults, so be sure to use the proper charts.

Fluctuating BMI in Children

The BMI of children fluctuates very often. Most children tend to gain large amounts of weight shortly before growth spurts. Some children, although it is less common, have the opposing problem, in that they grow several inches without gaining weight, temporarily dropping into the "Underweight" category before adjusting their caloric intake.

Some Problems with BMI

A minor problem with using BMI to determine a person's health is that BMI does not take into account the amount of fat versus muscle in the body. A child who is healthy and whose body contains heavy muscle may be classified as overweight because muscle is much denser than fat.