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Understanding BMI
Review how to calculate and interpret your child's body mass index or BMI to help determine if he is overweight, underweight, or at a healthy weight.

BMI Formula
Although it is quite easy to calculate a child' BMI using an online BMI calculator or look it up on a BMI chart, you could also calculate it yourself with the BMI formula.

Criticisms and Reliability of BMI
Because the BMI formula simply includes a child's height and weight and doesn't directly measure their body fat, a lot of people are critical of using body mass index to measure obesity. However, according to the CDC, 'BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness for most children and teens.'