Centers for Disease Control and Prevention




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Training Module: Using the BMI-for-Age Growth Charts

Accuracy of measurements
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Example 1:

Sanjay is a 5.5-year-old boy, weighing 41.5 pounds with a height of 43.0 inches. His calculated BMI is 15.8. When plotted on the BMI-for-age chart for boys, his BMI falls just above the 50th percentile (shown by the purple dot).
  Example chart of accurate and inaccurate measurement

Inaccurate Measurement

If his height were measured or recorded inaccurately at 42.25 inches (3/4-inch below his actual height of 43.0 inches), his BMI-for-age would be 16.3 and fall on the 75th percentile (shown by the aqua dot). In this example, the measurement error did not cause a change in classification because growth remained within the normal range but you see what could happen.

 
 

Example 2
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