Using BMI-for-Age Growth Charts – About This Course

Content

The CDC BMI-for-Age Growth Charts described in this training course apply only to children and teens aged 2 to 20 years. There are seven sections in this course:

1. What Is Body Mass Index (BMI)?
2. BMI-for-Age as a Screening Tool
3. Calculating BMI
4. Plotting & Interpreting BMI
5. Summary
6. Resources and References
7. Glossary

Self-assessment questions are included in each section. Supplemental materials are also available, including a reference and resource list.

Intended Audience

The intended audience includes health care providers such as nutritionists, registered nurses, pediatricians, and other providers who measure and assess child growth.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the training, you will be able to:

• Describe why BMI is recommended as a screening tool for all children and adolescents.
• Understand how to calculate BMI and BMI percentile.
• Plot and interpret BMI-for-age on the 2000 CDC BMI-for-Age Growth Charts and the 2022 CDC Extended BMI-for-Age Growth Charts.

ESTIMATED TIME NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE COURSE

To read the text: 20 minutes

To read the text and complete the exercises: 30 minutes