BMI
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement that compares your height and weight to find out if you’re at a healthy weight. To use the calculator, you’ll need to know your age, weight and how tall you are:
BMI Calculator For Kids and Teens
What It Means
The BMI calculations for teens are used differently than the calculations for adults. For kids and teens, your BMI is plotted on a growth chart for girls or a growth chart for boys to show where you are compared to other people your age. This number is just a starting point and doesn't take into account things like how much muscle you have or how large or small your frame is, things that may make your BMI higher even if you're not necessarily overweight.
What If I’m Overweight?
If the BMI calculation shows you’re overweight, don’t panic. As a teenager, your body is constantly changing and growing and there are many factors that experts look at to decide whether there's a weight problem or not. Take these steps to make sure you get the help you need:
- Talk to your parents and your doctor. Your parents, doctor or school nurse can help you figure out if your weight is something to worry about.
- Get some exercise. Whether you’re overweight or not, exercise is important for keeping you strong and managing your weight. Try to be as active as possible every day, getting in at least 30-60 minutes of any activity you enjoy - riding a bike, walking, playing a sport or even active video games like Wii Fit or Dance Dance Revolution.
- Work on Healthy Eating. Talk to your parents about your diet and how you can make it healthier. Cutting out soda, chips or candy and adding more fruits and vegetables is one simple way to make your diet more healthful.
- Educate Yourself. When you know about your situation, you can make better decisions. Read through all the things that affect your weight and take some time to learn more about whether you’re overweight or if you need to work on your body image.
- Keep it Safe. You may be tempted to go on a crash diet, skip meals or do hours of exercise to lose weight. Unfortunately, those aren’t safe and usually end up backfiring, making you so hungry, you end up eating even more. You need food on a regular basis to keep your body going and skipping meals or starving yourself will make you miserable and could lead to an eating disorder over the long term. More about how not to lose weight.
