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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Summary
This study critiques methods for determining ideal body weight, finding them flawed. It recommends focusing on health outcomes for very thin and very obese individuals instead of ideal weight concepts.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Established height-weight studies, including the Framingham study and American Cancer Society research, have utilized specific methodologies to define ideal body weight.
- Previous research has established correlations between weight and various health outcomes, influencing public health guidelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the methodologies used in determining ideal body weight in significant epidemiological studies.
- To assess the validity of new height-weight tables derived from recent population studies.
Main Methods:
- Review and critique of procedural methodologies in the 1959 and 1979 Build and Blood Pressure studies.
- Analysis of the methods used in the Framingham (Mass) study and the American Cancer Society's weight-mortality study.
- Examination of the basis for the 1979 Build and Blood Pressure study's height-weight tables.
Main Results:
- Significant objections raised against the procedures used to establish ideal weights in multiple key studies.
- Criticism directed at the newly developed height-weight tables based on the 1979 Build and Blood Pressure study data.
Conclusions:
- The concept of a single "ideal weight" is deemed problematic and should be abandoned.
- Future research should prioritize understanding the morbidity and mortality experiences of weight outliers (underweight and obese individuals).
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