Track your family’s health today

The nutritional requirements of every individual varies with age and health conditions. No single meal plan can fit one and all. However, it is important to keep a check on normal growth and development so that one can be physically active and healthy through various ages. A Growth tracker plays a crucial role in promoting a child's health, well-being, and development. By monitoring their growth indicators and milestones. Parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers can work together to guarantee the best possible results for growing children. Hence, regular monitoring of the height and weight can help detect early health challenges.

You can start immediately by creating and maintaining a growth chart to do this. If you do not know how to create one, AskNestlé is here to put your mind at ease and provide you with all the information that you need. Here is a quick guide on growth charts – what they mean, why you should maintain them, how often to measure and more.

A percentile calculator allows you to calculate the various metrics related to growth in different contexts. It is a simple graphical representation of your child’s growth in terms of height and weight based on their gender and age.

A child’s growth chart enables you to monitor the growth and wellbeing. When you maintain a growth percentile chart, it allows you to assess how your child’s growth aligns with that of other boys and girls of the same age. This growth chart also acts as a piece of information for your doctor to check for any variations from the ideal references. However, the chart is different for boys and girls as their growth patterns are different too.

For adults (above 18 years) ,the Ideal body weight (IBW) is defined as weight for height at the lowest risk of mortality. However, a much simpler and more acceptable measure is the ratio of weight and height, which estimates total body mass and correlates highly with the percentage of body fat. The most commonly used ratio is the BMI (Body Mass Index).

The BMI calculator is a tool used by adults to determine their weight category, such as underweight, normal or overweight based on their current height and weight. Using the BMI formula gives you an idea of whether your weight is healthy for your height and is computed by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of the height in meters and the results are compared to the BMI chart values. Have you tried using a BMI calculator to monitor your health goals? AskNestlé features a free BMI calculator for visitors. Use the BMI calculator to check your health. Using a BMI calculator can help you understand your body mass index, a crucial metric for assessing your health.

Healthcare providers often use BMI as a screening tool to identify potential health risks associated with weight. Low BMI might indicate malnutrition or underlying health problems. On the contrary, high BMI can be an indicator of excess body fat, hence it's important to consider other factors like diet and physical activity. A balanced diet helps in achieving a healthy BMI. Monitoring BMI can offer valuable information about your overall health and fitness.

Reference growth charts used are:

• 2 to 5 year old: WHO growth charts for both height and weight
• 5 to 18 year old: IAP growth chart for both height and weight
• Above 18 years: the BMI (Height to weight ratio) is based on the Indian consensus statement for Asian Indians, API, 2009, published in Clinical Dietetics Manual , 2nd edition, IDA, 2018.