Growth Percentiles Calculator for Children | HealthCalculum

Evaluate child growth using WHO/CDC growth curves

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What are Growth Percentiles?

Growth percentiles are a way to compare a child's measurements (weight, height, BMI) to other children of the same age and gender. They help healthcare providers assess if a child is growing within expected ranges based on WHO and CDC growth standards.

Percentiles indicate the percentage of children who measure less than your child. For example, if your child is at the 60th percentile for height, 60% of children the same age are shorter.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your child's weight in kilograms, height in centimeters, age in years, and select gender. The calculator will compute percentiles based on WHO growth standards for children under 2 years and CDC growth charts for children 2-20 years. Results show where your child falls compared to population norms.

Interpretation Guide

Esta calculadora avalia 3 medidas diferentes. Cada uma tem sua interpretação específica:

📊 Percentil de Peso para Idade

Abaixo do P3 - Muito baixo

Peso muito abaixo do esperado.

P3 a P15 - Abaixo da média

Peso abaixo da média.

P15 a P85 - Normal

Peso adequado.

P85 a P97 - Acima da média

Peso acima da média.

Acima de P97 - Muito alto

Peso muito elevado.

📏 Percentil de Altura para Idade

Abaixo do P3 - Muito baixo

Estatura muito baixa.

P3 a P15 - Abaixo da média

Estatura abaixo da média.

P15 a P85 - Normal

Estatura adequada.

P85 a P97 - Acima da média

Estatura acima da média.

Acima de P97 - Muito alto

Estatura muito elevada.

⚖️ Percentil de IMC para Idade

Abaixo do P5 - Baixo peso

IMC baixo.

P5 a P85 - Peso saudável

IMC adequado.

P85 a P95 - Sobrepeso

Risco de sobrepeso.

Acima de P95 - Obesidade

Obesidade infantil.

Limitations

Growth percentiles are screening tools, not diagnostic. Individual variations exist based on genetics, ethnicity, and other factors. This calculator provides estimates - always consult with a pediatrician for comprehensive growth assessment and interpretation in clinical context.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does being at the 50th percentile mean?

Being at the 50th percentile means the child is exactly at the median - 50% of children of the same age and gender are smaller and 50% are larger. This is considered perfectly normal and healthy.

What's the difference between WHO and CDC curves?

WHO curves are based on breastfed children from multiple countries and are recommended for children under 2 years. CDC curves are based on data from American children and are used for ages 2-20 years. Both are valid and widely accepted.

My child changed percentiles, is this concerning?

Small variations are normal. Significant changes (crossing 2 or more percentile lines) or staying below the 5th or above the 95th percentile warrant pediatric evaluation to rule out growth or nutritional problems.

Is child BMI calculated the same as adult BMI?

The formula is the same (weight/height²), but interpretation differs. For children, BMI is compared to percentiles by age and gender, not fixed values as in adults, because body composition changes during growth.

Scientific References

  1. 1. WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group. WHO Child Growth Standards: Length/height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length, weight-for-height and body mass index-for-age: Methods and development. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2006.
  2. 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical Growth Charts. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/clinical_charts.htm
  3. 3. de Onis M, Onyango AW, Borghi E, Siyam A, Nishida C, Siekmann J. Development of a WHO growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents. Bull World Health Organ. 2007;85(9):660-667.
  4. 4. Grummer-Strawn LM, Reinold C, Krebs NF. Use of World Health Organization and CDC growth charts for children aged 0-59 months in the United States. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2010;59(RR-9):1-15.