Estimated-Adult BMI Versus BMI for Monitoring Childhood Obesity

Abstract

A child or an adult is considered obese (wasted), when the incumbent has excess (lesser) mass-for-height. BMI (body-mass index) is, universally, employed to estimate status of obesity (wasting). The name was given by Ancel Keys (1904-2004) and co-workers, replacing the earlier name ‘Quetelet index’ (1832) after the Belgian astronomer, mathematician and statistician, Adolphe Quetelet (1796-1874). To compute BMI of an individual, one should divide the incumbent’s mass (in kg — kilograms) by square of height (in m — meters). This index has its weak as well as its strong points. It is not able to account for factors like size of body frame as well as muscularity. Further, it is based on incorrect assumptions about body fat and lean mass distribution. As the person attains mature age, a decrease in height occurs, which results in BMI reduction, although the mass is not altered. Further, BMI is not able to establish a universal threshold for conditions of overweight and underweight as well as inter- and intra-region variations in body compositions of different communities, the later one appears by the presence of different ethnic groups within the same region. For children, the BMI range, which is routinely employed for estimating statuses for adults, is not applicable. BMI tables are needed to interpret childhood obesity-and-malnutrition.