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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Ideal body weight in children
Sharon Phillips1, Angela Edlbeck, Midge Kirby
1Department of Clinical Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
Summary
Determining ideal body weight (IBW) in children lacks a consensus definition and calculation method. Different methods yield disparate results, especially in older children, highlighting the need for consistent application.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric endocrinology
- Child health and nutrition
- Biostatistics and anthropometry
Background:
- The definition and calculation of ideal body weight (IBW) in pediatric populations lack a universally accepted standard.
- Accurate assessment of IBW is crucial for monitoring growth, nutritional status, and clinical decision-making in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the discrepancies between different methods for calculating ideal body weight (IBW) in children.
- To highlight the impact of age and percentile on the variability of IBW calculations.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of three distinct methods for ideal body weight (IBW) calculation: McLaren, Moore, and Body Mass Index (BMI).
- Analysis of results across different age groups and weight percentiles in pediatric subjects.
Main Results:
- All three methods (McLaren, Moore, BMI) provide similar IBW estimates for children under 8 years old.
- Significant discrepancies in IBW calculations emerge among the methods for older children, particularly at the extreme ends of the weight spectrum (lowest and highest percentiles).
- The choice of IBW calculation method significantly influences results, especially in diverse pediatric populations.
Conclusions:
- There is no clear consensus on the definition or optimal method for calculating ideal body weight (IBW) in children.
- Methodological consistency is paramount when assessing ideal body weight (IBW) in pediatric patients to ensure reliable clinical interpretation.
- Further research is needed to establish standardized guidelines for IBW calculation in children across various age groups and anthropometric profiles.
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