Back to Search Start Over

Distance and percentage distance from median BMI as alternatives to BMI z score

Authors :
Cynthia L. Ogden
Tim J Cole
David S. Freedman
Jessica G. Woo
Ji H Xu
Source :
British Journal of Nutrition. 124:493-500
Publication Year :
2019
Publisher :
Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2019.

Abstract

BMI z (BMIz) score based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts is widely used, but it is inaccurate above the 97th percentile. We explored the performance of alternative metrics based on the absolute distance or % distance of a child’s BMI from the median BMI for sex and age. We used longitudinal data from 5628 children who were first examined 3 years. The ICCs of the age-adjusted metrics were also higher compared with that of BMIz among children who were overweight or obese. Unlike BMIz, these alternative metrics do not have an upper limit and can be used for assessing BMI in all children, even those with very high BMIs. The age-adjusted % from median (on a log or linear scale) works well for all ages, while unadjusted % from median is better limited to older children or short follow-up periods.

Details

ISSN :
14752662 and 00071145
Volume :
124
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
British Journal of Nutrition
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........beb9d9ede4094ea6d1343ece3e3b0e82
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114519002046