In the United States, a child's BMI declines and reaches a minimum around 4 to 6 years of age before beginning a gradual increase through adolescence and most of adulthood. Children whose adiposity rebound begins at younger ages are more likely to have an increased BMI as an adult. The child below starts at the 50 th percentile BMI and stays at the 50 th percentile as she grows from age 3 years to 9.5 years. BMI in children and adolescents compares well to laboratory measures of body fat. BMI is related to health risks.
Overweight children are likely to become overweight adults.
The standards used to identify obesity and overweight in children and adolescents agree with standards used to identify overweight and obesity in adults. Although the new BMI charts are a useful tool, Dr. Kenneth Ellis, a CNRC scientist who studies children's growth and development, cautions their usefulness should not be overestimated. To track their child's growth, parents are advised to partner with their child's health care provider, who is in the best position to effectively evaluate growth and any possible development problems. Copyright 1999 Baylor College of Medicine. All Rights Reserved.