Assess
- Assess the child’s height, weight and weight status
- Ask about family lifestyle and behaviours
Chart
Body mass index (BMI)-for-age percentile chart for boys and girls
It’s not always easy to tell if a child is a healthy weight for their age and height.
Children and teenagers need to grow, but they are healthiest if they stay within a certain weight range as they grow. This is called a healthy weight for their age.
Video
Guide
Guide to accurately measuring the height of a child
Standing height measurement is appropriate for most children 2 years, and older.
Guide
Guide to accurately measuring the length of a child
Length measurement is appropriate for most children under 2 years, and older if unable to stand.
BMI Calculator
Child weight status calculator
It’s not always easy to tell if a child is a healthy weight for their age and height.
Children and teenagers need to grow, but they are healthiest if they stay within a certain weight range as they grow. This is called a healthy weight for their age.
Chart
A
ssessment flow chart
For weight assessment and management in children above a healthy weight
Information is relevant for all clinicians providing care for children 2–17 years old.
Policy
NSW Health Guideline – Growth Assessment in Children (2017)
This document describes a standardised approach to measuring weight and height in children and adults, and to measuring length and head circumference in infants. This document also describes interpreting and recording these measurements as part of assessing weight status.
Standardised measurement and interpretation of weight, height, and weight status will improve the accuracy and usefulness of measurements over time and across facilities, and support clinical decision-making.