[Body mass coefficient: a proposal of a new method of nutritional assessment]

A new method of nutritional assessment was developed on the basis of Quetelet's equation. The equation for the Body Mass Coefficient: BMC = M1,425 x 71.84/L1,275 (M - body mass in kg; L - height in cm) made it possible to draw a curve and to compile a table of normal values for boys and girls aged 4-18 years. Population data for children and adolescents from Warsaw were used. The sensitivity of the method is very high for detecting weight deficiences below the 10th percentile but the method should also be suitable as a screening test for obesity.