What Is a Healthy Weight? BMI for Children and Teens For
children and teens, overweight is defined differently than it is
for adults. BMIs for youth 2–20 years old are determined by
comparing their weight and height against growth charts that
take their age and gender into account, because children are
still growing, and boys and girls develop at different rates. A
child’s “BMI-for-age,” as it is called, shows how his or her BMI
compares with other girls or boys of the same age. A child or
teen between the 85th and 95th percentile on the growth chart is
considered overweight. A child or teen at the 95th percentile or
above is considered obese. Find out your child’s BMI by visiting
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s BMI Percentile
Calculator for Child and Teen. If your child is overweight or
obese, visit the promoting a healthy weight across the lifespan
page for some helpful ideas.