Teens Meet Outreach

Body mass index (BMI) or quetelet index is a value derived from the mass (weight) and height of an individual. It is defined as the body mass divided by the square of your body height and its units is kg/m square.

For example, my current body weight is 65kg and my height is 1.68 metre square.
My body mass index will be 65kg/1.68*1.68 = 19.48 metres square.

BMI is an indicator of high body fatness, it is also a screening tool to know your body fatness and health state.

How BMI is interpreted for adults

BMI – Weight status
Below 18.5 – Under weight
18.5 – 24.9 – Normal or healthy weight
25.0 – 29.9 – Overweight
30.3 and above – Obesity

With this classification of BMI values, 21. 26 metres square shows a healthy status.

BMI is interpreted differently for children and teenagers, though it is calculated using the same formula. Children and teens’ BMI should be checked, with the age and gender type in consideration. This is the due to the changes that occur with the age and body fats.

To calculate and interpret the BMI for children and teenagers, the BMI percentile is used.

Classification for Intepretation of BMI for Teenagers

Weight status – Percentile range
Underweight – Less than the 5th percentile
Normal – 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile
Overweight – 85th to less than the 98th percentile
Obese – Equal to or greater than the 95th percentile

As teenagers, this is possibly the first time you are knowing about BMI. Don’t be worried about your result, whether you are underweight or overweight.

You can calculate your BMI yourself, all you need are:

• Your height in metres
• Your weight in kg and your age

Say, you are 18years, your height is 1.80 metres and your weight is 75kg as a Male.

Using the formula, weight in kg/ height in metres square, to calculate your BMI:

Let’s do the mathematics

75kg/ 1.80 metres * 1.80 metres = 23.14kg/metres square

As a teenager, 23.14kg falls between the 5th to 85th percentile.

It is very easy, all you have to do is calculate the digits and check your status on the percentile chart. Attached below is the percentile chart for both boys and girls.

---

You can try calculating yours if you know your weight and your height and let me know in the comments below if this helped. Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog to not miss a post.