Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) Practice Exam 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

A BMI of 26 for an 8-year-old child indicates that the child is overweight. In pediatric populations, BMI percentiles are used to categorize weight status. For children and adolescents, BMI is interpreted relative to age and sex because body composition changes over time and varies between genders.

The classification of BMI categories for children typically follows these percentiles: a BMI that falls between the 85th and 94th percentile for age and sex is classified as overweight, while a BMI at or above the 95th percentile is considered obese. A BMI of 26 places the child above the 85th percentile, signifying that they are overweight.

It is important to consider that BMI is only one screening tool and should be interpreted alongside other assessments and clinical judgment to give a comprehensive view of a child's health status. This understanding is crucial in pediatric nursing as it helps in identifying children who may benefit from nutritional counseling and lifestyle interventions to promote overall health.