Weight-for-Height Percentile Calculator (WHO, 2-5 Years)

How Weight-for-Height Percentiles Work (2-5 Years)

Weight-for-height percentiles assess whether a child’s weight is proportionate to their standing height, regardless of age. This is especially useful for identifying children who may be underweight (wasted) or overweight relative to their body size.

The WHO uses the LMS method to model the distribution of weight at each height value. This chart covers heights from 65 cm to 120 cm, which corresponds roughly to the height range of children aged 2 to 5 years.

When to Use Weight-for-Height

• Children aged 2-5 years measured standing up
• Useful when exact age is unknown (e.g., in humanitarian settings)
• Better than weight-for-age for assessing acute malnutrition
• For children under 2 measured lying down, use our weight-for-length calculator

Example Calculation

A boy who is 90 cm tall and weighs 12.9 kg would be approximately at the 50th percentile for weight-for-height, since the WHO median weight for boys at 90 cm is about 12.8864 kg.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is weight-for-height different from weight-for-length?

Weight-for-length uses recumbent length (measured lying down) for children under 2. Weight-for-height uses standing height for children 2-5. Standing height is typically about 0.7 cm shorter than recumbent length, and the WHO provides separate reference data for each.

What height range does this calculator cover?

This calculator uses WHO data covering heights from 65 cm to 120 cm. Heights outside this range are not covered by the WHO weight-for-height growth standards for 2-5 years.

When should I use weight-for-height vs. BMI?

The WHO weight-for-height chart is designed for children aged 2-5 years. For older children and adolescents, BMI-for-age is more commonly used. Both assess whether weight is proportionate to body size, but BMI-for-age extends through age 20.

What do the percentile ranges mean?

Below the 3rd percentile may indicate wasting (acute undernutrition). Above the 97th percentile may indicate overweight. Between the 15th and 85th percentiles is generally considered the normal range for weight-for-height.