Defining overweight in children using growth charts

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Public Health
• Growth Monitoring

Background:

• Childhood overweight and adult obesity rates have both risen.
• Definitions for pediatric overweight and adult obesity differ significantly.
• Adult obesity uses fixed cutoffs, while pediatric overweight relies on reference populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the definitions and screening methods for pediatric overweight in the U.S.
• To highlight the specific criteria used for identifying overweight and at-risk children.
• To explain the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the 2000 CDC BMI-for-age growth charts for U.S. children and teens (ages 2-19).
• Applying statistical definitions based on reference populations for BMI.
• Establishing percentile cutoffs for overweight and at-risk for overweight categories.

Main Results:

• Overweight in children and teens is defined as a BMI-for-age greater than or equal to the 95th percentile.
• At-risk for overweight is defined as a BMI-for-age between the 85th and 95th percentiles.
• The 2000 CDC growth charts serve as a growth reference, not a prescriptive standard.

Conclusions:

• The 2000 CDC BMI-for-age growth charts are the recommended tool for screening pediatric overweight in the U.S.
• Clear percentile-based definitions are crucial for consistent identification of overweight and at-risk children.
• Understanding these definitions is vital for public health initiatives addressing childhood obesity.