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Assessment of obesity in children

International Journal of Obesity volume 24, page 1542 (2000)Cite this article

The International Obesity Task Force concluded that the body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) was a reasonable measure with which to assess fatness in children and adolescents.1 However, the validity of the BMI as an index of obesity in children should be carefully examined. It is well known that BMI increases as children grow, and the prevalence of obesity defined by BMI was much higher in a tall group than a short group. In Japan, we usually use weight/standard weight (W/SW; %) to assess obesity in children, with a cut-off point to define obesity at 120%. The standard weight was obtained for sex, age and height 2on the basis of data from Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture.

BMI is a convenient measure for global use and primary screening of obesity. However, in growing children, unlike adults, assessment by BMI is complicated by height gain. In this study of individual change, an increase in BMI did not always indicate a tendency toward overweight. To assess obesity in individuals during the growing period, W/SW is suggested to be a better index.

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References

  1. Dietz WH, Bellizi MC . Assessment of childhood and adolescent obesity. Results from an international obesity task force workshop. Dublin, June 16, 1997 Am J Clin Nutr 1999 70: 117S–75S.

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  2. K Yamazaki, H Matsuoka, M Murata et al.Evaluation of standard body weight by sex, age and height—on the basis of 1990 school year data J Jpn Pediat Sci 1994 98: 96–102.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30–1, Oyaguchikamimachi, Itabashi, Tokyo, 173-8610, Japan

    F Iwata, T Okada & K Harada

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  1. F Iwata
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  2. T Okada
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  3. K Harada
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Iwata, F., Okada, T. & Harada, K. Assessment of obesity in children. Int J Obes 24, 1542 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801431

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