Is BMI a diagnostic tool? No. BMI is a screening tool used to identify potential weight issues. A healthcare provider would need to perform further assessments to determine if excess fat is a health concern.
Why isn't adult BMI used for kids? Children's body composition varies as they grow, and it differs by sex. Adult BMI categories do not account for these developmental factors.
What is a BMI percentile? A percentile rank shows how a child's BMI compares to other children of the same age and sex from a reference population.