What Is BMI?
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•Body mass index (BMI)  =
•weight (kg)/height (m)2
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•BMI is an effective screening tool; it is not a diagnostic tool
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•For children, BMI is age and gender specific, so BMI-for-age is the measure used
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· Body Mass Index (BMI) is an anthropometric index of weight and height (stature) that is defined as body weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.  BMI is the commonly accepted index for classifying adiposity in adults and it is recommended for use with children and adolescents.

• Like weight-for-height, BMI is a screening tool used to identify individuals who are underweight or overweight.  BMI is not a diagnostic tool.  For example, a child who is relatively heavy may have a high BMI for his or her age or high weight-for-stature. To determine whether the child has excess fat, further assessment needed might include triceps skinfold measurements. To determine a counseling strategy, assessments of diet, health, and physical activity are needed.

• BMI is gender specific and age specific for children.  BMI-for-age is the measure used for ages 2 to 20 years since BMI changes substantially as children get older. Whereas for adults, BMI is neither age nor gender specific and nutritional status is defined by fixed cut points.