Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
PA student assessment of body mass index in children using visual cues
Gina M Berg1, Paul Casper, Evan Ohlman
1Gina M. Berg is a research associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita, Kans. Paul Casper, Evan Ohlman, and Justin Schulte are recent graduates of the PA program at Wichita (Kans.) State University. Carolyn R. Ahlers-Schmidt is a research associate professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita. Sue Nyberg is a professor in the PA program at Wichita State University. Francie Ekengren is chief medical officer at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Objective:
Pediatric weight or body mass index often is underestimated by providers when relying solely upon visual cues. This study sought to determine physician assistant (PA) students' and recent graduates' ability to accurately assess BMI for age in patients ages 3 to 5 years using visual cues.
Methods:
PA students and recent graduates visually assessed pictures of three children ages 3 to 5 years-one obese, one overweight, and one with healthy weight-for BMI categorization via online survey. Responses were scored for accuracy.
Results:
Ninety-eight PA students and recent graduates completed the assessment. Accuracy for BMI categorization was low, especially in the obese and overweight children for visual assessment alone. Accuracy improved slightly when height and weight data were provided.
Conclusions:
PA student and recent graduate visual assessment for categorization of BMI is unreliable, similar to studies with other providers. PAs should be aware of discrepancy and not rely on visual assessment to determine weight-related interventions.
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