Poshan Calculator: Free Child Growth & Nutrition Tool
Use our Poshan Calculator to check your child's growth status using WHO standards. Easy, free, and works globally for parents and health workers.
Measure length (lying down)
Important Notice
This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized guidance regarding your child's health and nutrition.
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What is the Poshan Calculator?
The Poshan Calculator is an intelligent, easy-to-use child growth calculator designed to assess a child's nutritional and growth status based on World Health Organization (WHO) standards. By entering basic details such as age, gender, height, and weight, parents and health professionals can instantly find out if a child is underweight, normal, stunted, or wasted.
The word Poshan means nutrition in Hindi, reflecting its roots in India's national initiative, POSHAN Abhiyaan, a mission focused on improving child and maternal health. However, this online tool is not limited to India; it can be used globally as a universal nutrition tool that follows internationally recognized benchmarks for child growth.
This calculator simplifies complex health data into an easy visual report that helps caregivers, NGOs, and pediatricians identify malnutrition risks early and promote healthy growth among children aged 0–5 years.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use the Poshan Calculator
Using the Poshan Calculator is simple, fast, and accessible to everyone, even without a medical background.
Select the Child's Gender
Choose Male or Female from the dropdown list.
Enter the Age
Input the child's age in years and months (or date of birth). Accurate age helps the tool compare results to correct WHO growth charts.
Enter the Height or Length
- • For children above 2 years: enter height in centimeters (cm).
- • For children below 2 years: enter length (lying measurement).
Enter the Weight
Enter the child's weight in kilograms (kg). For global users, there's an option to switch to pounds (lbs).
View Instant Results
The calculator instantly processes your inputs using WHO's child growth reference data.
Read the Result
The result will show your child's status: Normal, Underweight, Stunted, or Wasted, often accompanied by color indicators (Green = Healthy, Yellow = Mild Risk, Red = Severe Risk).
Understand and Take Action
The tool will provide short, actionable suggestions like "Ensure balanced nutrition and regular check-ups."
Example Scenarios (Case Studies)
Understanding how the calculator works is easier with examples. Here are a few realistic cases:
Age: 24 months (2 years)
Gender: Male
Height: 85 cm
Weight: 10.5 kg
Result: At risk of underweight
The child's weight-for-age is slightly below WHO's normal range.
Age: 12 months (1 year)
Gender: Female
Height: 73 cm
Weight: 9.2 kg
Result: Normal growth
The child is within a healthy range for both height and weight.
Age: 48 months (4 years)
Gender: Male
Height: 95 cm
Weight: 11 kg
Result: Stunted and underweight
Height and weight are significantly below average. Consult a pediatrician.
Understanding the Key Indicators
- Indicates chronic malnutrition or long-term lack of nutrients.
- A stunted child is shorter than normal for their age.
- Often results from repeated infections or inadequate nutrition during early years.
- Indicates acute malnutrition or recent weight loss.
- The child's weight is low for their height.
- Often due to illness or food shortage.
- Reflects both chronic and acute undernutrition.
- Commonly used as a general indicator for child malnutrition.
- The child's measurements fall within WHO's healthy range.
- Shows good nutrition and development.
Understanding these terms helps parents track their child's progress and take early action if the child falls outside the healthy growth range.
About the WHO/CDC Standards
The Poshan Calculator relies on the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth reference charts, globally recognized benchmarks for child development.
- The WHO standards are based on multi-country studies that represent optimal child growth patterns under ideal health, nutrition, and environmental conditions.
- The CDC standards are often used in the United States and are aligned closely with WHO data for global consistency.
By using these standards, the Poshan Calculator ensures results are scientifically accurate, globally relevant, and medically trustworthy.
References:
- 1. World Health Organization: Child Growth Standards (2006) - https://www.who.int/tools/child-growth-standards
- 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Child and Teen BMI Calculator - https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/bmi/calculator.html
Disclaimer and References
Disclaimer:
The Poshan Calculator is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
References:
- • World Health Organization (WHO): Child Growth Standards - https://www.who.int/tools/child-growth-standards
- • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Child and Teen BMI Calculator - https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/bmi/calculator.html
- • POSHAN Abhiyaan – Government of India Initiative - https://poshanabhiyaan.gov.in/
The Poshan Calculator bridges the gap between complex nutrition data and practical, everyday understanding. By entering a few basic details, anyone, from parents to global health workers, can assess a child's nutritional well-being within seconds.
Whether you're a caregiver in India, a pediatric nurse in Kenya, or a parent in the U.S., this tool empowers you to monitor growth, prevent malnutrition, and support healthier generations worldwide.
