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[Body-mass index cut-off values for underweight in Dutch children]

S van Buuren1

  • 1TNO Preventie en Gezondheid, Postbus 2215, 2301 CE Leiden. s.vanbuuren@pg.tno.nl

Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde
|November 5, 2004
PubMed

Insights

The prevalence of serious underweight in Dutch children aged 2-6 increased between 1980 and 1997. However, older children (7-18 years) saw a decrease in serious underweight prevalence during the same period.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Growth Standards
  • Public Health

Context:

  • The Dutch growth standards from 1980 provide a baseline for child development.
  • Changes in population weight and weight variation can indicate shifts in health status.
  • Understanding trends in underweight is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose:

  • To establish body-mass index (BMI) cut-off values for underweight and serious underweight in children up to 18 years, using 1980 Dutch growth standards.
  • To analyze the prevalence of underweight and serious underweight in children based on 1997 Dutch growth study data.

Summary:

  • A secondary data analysis was conducted to determine BMI cut-offs for underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 at 18 years) and serious underweight (BMI < 17.0 kg/m2 at 18 years).
  • Prevalence of serious underweight increased in younger children (2-6 years) from 1.5% to 3.6% (boys) and 2.9% to 3.3% (girls) between 1980 and 1997.
  • In older children (7-18 years), serious underweight prevalence decreased from 1.5% to 1.4% (boys) and 2.9% to 1.7% (girls) over the same period.

Impact:

  • The study highlights a divergence in underweight trends between younger and older children in the Netherlands.
  • Increased weight variation suggests potentially more pronounced health disparities within the population.
  • Findings underscore the need for continued monitoring of child growth and nutritional status.
Abstract

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