Defining Childhood Overweight
Body
mass index (BMI) is a practical measure used to determine overweight. BMI is
a measure of weight in relation to height that is used to determine weight
status. BMI can be calculated using either English or metric units. BMI is the most widely accepted method used to screen for overweight in
children and adolescents because it is relatively easy to obtain the height
and weight measurements needed to calculate BMI, measurements are
non-invasive and BMI correlates with body fatness.6 While BMI is
an accepted screening tool for the initial assessment of body fatness in
children and adolescents, it is not a diagnostic measure because BMI is not
a direct measure of body fatness.
Use of BMI to Screen for Overweight in Children
For children and adolescents (aged 2–19 years), the result is plotted on the CDC growth charts to determine the corresponding BMI-for-age percentile. Overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex. This definition is based on the 2000 CDC Growth Charts for the United States.7 A child’s weight status is determined based on an age- and sex-specific percentile for BMI rather than by the BMI categories used for adults. Classifications of overweight for children and adolescents are age- and sex-specific because children’s body composition varies as they age and varies between boys and girls.
For more information, see the About BMI for Children and Teens.
Tips for Parents
What can you do as a parent or guardian to help prevent childhood
overweight? We have some ideas in our Healthy Weight section.
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* Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
Page last updated: May 21, 2008
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
