How to Calculate Ideal Body Weight for Children

BMI Chart

In this day and age, having awareness about your children's health is very important. Obesity is on the rise, and children are becoming frequent victims of this disease. To guarantee a healthy future and long life, it is important for both the parent and the child to understand an ideal body weight. This article will tell you how to determine what the ideal body weight is for a child using the Body Mass Index Scale, or BMI.

Things You'll Need

• Child's Weight in Pounds
• Child's Height in Inches
• Calculator
• BMI Chart

Instructions

Calculating BMI

1. Take the square of the child's height in inches.

2. Divide the child's weight in pounds by the square of the height in inches.

3. Multiply this number by 703

4. By following the equation (weight/height squared) x 703, you should have reached a decimal between 12 and 80. This number is known as a BMI, or Body Mass Index rating. This rating determines if the child's weight is healthy, or otherwise.
   A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. BMI less than 18.5 are underweight, while BMI between 25 and 29.9 are overweight, and BMI over 30 are considered obese.

Using BMI to determine a healthy weight

1. Divide a healthy BMI value (a number between 18.5 and 24.9) by the value 703.

2. Multiply that number by the square of the child's height in inches.

3. This value should be the ideal weight for your child. Exercise and healthy diet help to maintain their weight.

References

• Web MD BMI overview