Adapted from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(2000). Clinical Data on United States Children.
Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/
Use the chart to locate your child's BMI and age.
Children with a BMI in the white zone are
considered underweight.
Children with a BMI in the green zone are
considered to have a normal weight.
Children with a BMI in the
yellow zone are considered at risk for being obese.
Children with a
BMI in the red zone are considered obese.
A child who has a large
upward change in BMI percentile, even if she is not considered overweight,
should be evaluated to determine the cause.
A child who has
continuously been in the 85th, 90th, or 95th percentile range is probably
growing normally (homeostasis) for her body type.
Primary Medical Reviewer
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer
Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer
Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics
Last Updated
March 22, 2006
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
March 22, 2006
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
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