Defining Childhood Weight Status
BMI for Children and Teens
Body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to determine childhood weight status. BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age.
A child’s weight status is different from adult BMI categories. Children’s body composition varies as they age and varies between boys and girls. Therefore, BMI levels among children and teens need to be expressed relative to other children of the same age and sex.
For example, a 10-year-old boy of average height (56 inches) who weighs 102 pounds would have a BMI of 22.9 kg/m2. This would place the boy in the 95th percentile for BMI, and he would be considered as having obesity. This means that the child’s BMI is greater than the BMI of 95% of 10-year-old boys in the reference population.
CDC Growth Charts are commonly used to measure the size and growth patterns of children and teens in the United States. BMI-for-age weight status categories and the corresponding percentiles, based on expert committee recommendations, and are in the following table:
| Weight Status Category | Percentile Range |
|---|---|
| Underweight | Less than the 5th percentile |
| Healthy Weight | 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile |
| Overweight | 85th to less than the 95th percentile |
| Obesity | 95th percentile or greater |
In children, BMI percentile cutoffs for obesity are intended to reliably define a level above which a child is more likely to have or be at risk of developing obesity-associated adverse health outcomes or diseases. For more information, see a resource guide assessing childhood obesityexternal icon.
BMI does not measure body fat directly, but BMI is correlated with more direct measures of body fat, such as skinfold thickness measurements, bioelectrical impedance, densitometry (underwater weighing), dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and other methods1,2,3. BMI can be considered a practical alternative to direct measures of body fat. A trained healthcare provider should perform appropriate health assessments to evaluate an individual’s health status and risks.
Childhood Obesity Causes & Consequences
Childhood obesity is a complex health issue. It occurs when a child is well above the normal or healthy weight for his or her age and height. The causes of excess weight gain in young people are similar to those in adults, including behavior and genetics. Obesity is also influenced by a person’s community as it can affect the ability to make healthy choices.
Behavior
Behaviors that influence excess weight gain include eating high-calorie, low-nutrient foods and beverages, medication use and sleep routines. Not getting enough physical activity and spending too much time on sedentary activities such as watching television or other screen devices can lead to weight gain.
In contrast, consuming healthy foods and being physically active can help children grow and maintain a healthy weight. Balancing energy or calories consumed from foods and beverages with the calories burned through activity plays a role in preventing excess weight gain. In addition, eating healthy foods and being physically active helps to prevent chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and heart disease.
Use these resources to eat well and be active!
A healthy diet follows the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americansexternal icon.It emphasizes eating a variety of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, a variety of lean protein foods, and low-fat and fat-free dairy products. It also recommends limiting foods and beverages with added sugars, solid fats, or sodium.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americansexternal icon recommends children aged 6 – 17 years do at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Children aged 3 through 5 years should be physically active throughout the day for growth and development.
See tips to help children maintain a healthy weight.
Prevalence of Childhood Obesity in the United States
Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States, putting children and adolescents at risk for poor health. Obesity prevalence among children and adolescents is still too high.
For children and adolescents aged 2-19 years in 2017-20181:
- The prevalence of obesity was 19.3% and affected about 14.4 million children and adolescents.
- Obesity prevalence was 13.4% among 2- to 5-year-olds, 20.3% among 6- to 11-year-olds, and 21.2% among 12- to 19-year-olds. Childhood obesity is also more common among certain populations.
- Obesity prevalence was 25.6% among Hispanic children, 24.2% among non-Hispanic Black children, 16.1% among non-Hispanic White children, and 8.7% among non-Hispanic Asian children.
1Read CDC National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) data brief
Note: Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile of the CDC sex-specific BMI-for-age growth charts.
Obesity and Socioeconomic Status
[Read the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)]
- In 2011-2014, among children and adolescents aged 2-19 years, the prevalence of obesity decreased as the head of household’s level of education increased.
- Obesity prevalence was 18.9% among children and adolescents aged 2-19 years in the lowest income group, 19.9% among those in the middle-income group, and 10.9% among those in the highest income group.
- Obesity prevalence was lower in the highest income group among non-Hispanic Asian boys and Hispanic boys.
- Obesity prevalence was lower in the highest income group among non-Hispanic White girls, non-Hispanic Asian girls, and Hispanic girls. Obesity prevalence did not differ by income among non-Hispanic Black girls.
Source: Centers for Disease Control
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