Studies have shown that non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Black, and Mexican Americans may have significantly different levels of body fat but the same BMI as people from other groups. They can have a high BMI because they have more muscle mass, but this does not mean they weigh too much for their height.Īnother limitation of BMI is that it does not distinguish between people of different racial or ethnic groups.
For example, high performance athletes tend have a lot of muscle and little body fat. While it takes height and weight into consideration, it does not account for factors such as: What is the problem with BMI?īMI is a very basic measurement. If a person has questions about their child’s BMI, they should consult a doctor. The CDC’s BMI charts for children use percentiles that compare measurements with boys and girls of the same age and gender. To calculate a child’s BMI, a person can use the CDC’s calculator for children and teenagers. The CDC use both age and sex assigned at birth in its BMI calculations for people between the ages of 2–19 years. This is because children typically grow larger with age. BMI based on ageĪge is not a factor in BMI for adults, but it is for children. A person can talk with their doctor if they have questions about calculating or interpreting their BMI score. BMI is just one tool to understand body size, and it does not account for all of the ways that people’s bodies may differ.
