Visual Assessment Versus Calculation of BMI - Example 2: Mindy

Here is Mindy, a 4-year-old girl. Does she appear to be classified as:

Please choose oneUnderweightNormal weightOverweightObese

Your visual assessment: Mindy is underweight.

Let's assess for overweight or obesity by calculating BMI.

Mindy's height is 41.9 inches and her weight is 35.5 pounds.

BMI = weight / height / height x 703

Enter her BMI here:
That's incorrect. Please try again.

Show BMI Calculator

Show me the answer

35.5 / 41.9 / 41.9 x 703 = 14.2

That's correct. Mindy's BMI = 14.2

Now, plot her BMI on the appropriate chart for her age and interpret the findings.

Select a chart:
Please choose oneBoys 2 to 20 BMI-for-ageGirls 2 to 20 BMI-for-age
That's incorrect. Please try again.

On the girls BMI-for-age chart, find Mindy's age on the horizontal axis, and visually draw a vertical line up from that point. Then, find her BMI on the vertical axis, and visually draw a horizontal line across from that point. The point where the two intersect represents Mindy's BMI-for-age.

Her age = 4 years
Her BMI = 14.2

Plotted on the BMI-for-age chart for girls, Mindy's BMI-for-age falls just above the 10th percentile, indicating that her BMI is within normal range.

Your visual assessment was that Mindy is normal weight.

Go to Example 3