兰州市3～12岁儿童BMI肥胖标准参考值

目的:探讨兰州市3～12岁儿童超重、肥胖BMI正常参考值。方法:采用随机整群分层抽样方法,选择兰州市区城市人口为主的4所小学和5所幼儿园3～12岁男女儿童3 200人进行体格测量。计算BMI百分位数分布,通过拟合BMI界值模型,最终确定兰州市学龄前及学龄儿童肥胖、超重BMI界值。结果:建立了兰州市3～12岁儿童超重、肥胖BMI正常参考值。按照本研究初拟界值判断,兰州市7、9、10、12岁组儿童超重问题最突出,每10人当中至少有1人超重;3～6岁儿童超重、肥胖随年龄增大而上升,其中在5岁期间增长幅度迅速增大;10岁组肥胖比例最高。结论:本研究各年龄组儿童除9岁和10岁男童超重、肥胖BMI界值在P80和P90百分位数,其余各组儿童主要集中在P85和P95百分位数。兰州市3～12岁儿童超重检出率女童高于男童(男童8.57%,女童9.39%),男童肥胖检出率高于女童(男童6.07%,女童4.32%),男女童在超重和肥胖检出率上并不总是男童高于女童。     

青少年体质指数预测偏高血压中曲线分析应用

目的 分析体质指数（BMI）预测偏高血压者工作特征（ROC）曲线下面积，观察中国儿童青少年超重、肥胖BMI分类标准超重、肥胖界值点预测偏高血压的灵敏度和特异度。方法 随机抽选1850名14～16岁北京中学生，测量身高、体重和血压。按中国儿童青少年超重、肥胖BMI分类标准，观察各组血压分布，绘制ROC曲线，观察曲线下面积，计算超重、肥胖界值点的灵敏度、特异度。结果 BMI预测偏高血压ROC曲线下面积均〉0．5（男0．789；女0．680。P〈0．001）。超重界值点比肥胖有更高灵敏度，而肥胖的界值点具有良好的特异度。结论 BMI预测偏高血压具有良好的有效性，且男生优于女生。     

江西儿童青少年体质指数预测高血压曲线分析

目的分析体质指数(BMI)预测高血压受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线下面积,探讨中国学龄儿童青少年超重、肥胖筛查体重指数分类标准预测江西县区儿童青少年高血压的灵敏度和特异度。方法于2013年采用随机整群抽样方法对江西省县区5 260名11~17岁儿童青少年进行身高、体重、血压的测量,分析儿童青少年BMI与血压的关系,绘制ROC曲线,观察曲线下面积,计算超重、肥胖界值点的灵敏度和特异度。结果 BMI预测高血压ROC曲线下面积男、女生(0.590、0.563)均0.5(P=0.000);男、女生超重点和肥胖点的灵敏度(0.206、0.081;0.078、0.018)均低于ROC曲线上的理想界值点(0.551、0.433);而男、女生超重点及肥胖点的特异度(0.903、0.951;0.977、0.994)均高于ROC曲线上的理想界值点(0.592、0.668)。结论中国学龄儿童青少年超重、肥胖筛查体重指数分类标准预测江西县区儿童青少年高血压的特异度较高。     

宁波地区7岁以下儿童超重和单纯性肥胖调查及三种筛查方法比较研究

目的 了解宁波地区7岁以下儿童单纯性肥胖发生情况,探讨BMI不同参照标准在儿童超重、肥胖筛查的应用.方法 随机整群抽样调查64 038名儿童的身高、体重,按WHO 2006年推荐的身高标准体重值,体重达身高标准体重≥10%为超重、≥20%为肥胖,剔除伴肥胖的遗传性疾病和内分泌疾病.并分别采用WHO与国际肥胖工作组(IOTF)推荐的超重、肥胖BMI参照值对同一人群计算超重、肥胖检出率.结果 按WHO身高标准体重值宁波市7岁以下儿童超重和单纯性肥胖检出率分别为4.25%和2.88%,其中男童分别为4.45%和3.01%,女童分别为3.86%和2.56%,男童与女童的超重和肥胖检出率差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).儿童超重和肥胖检出率随年龄增长而逐渐上升,6岁时男童分别达到11.84%和9.68%、女童分别达到10.14%和9.46%.不同年龄组和性别超重/肥胖比在1.15～1.94:1之间.调查人群BMI的P85、P95均低于WHO与IOTF标准中"超重"、"肥胖"的BMI判断界值,使用WHO与IOTF推荐的BMI参照值宁波市7岁以下儿童超重、肥胖检出率分别为9.72%、2.83%和6.11%、0.55%.结论 儿童早期是预防日后肥胖的关键时期,男童是预防和控制肥胖发生、发展的重点人群,应将预防和控制儿童肥胖工作列入儿童保健服务之中,建议尽快建立适合中国7岁以下儿童超重、肥胖筛查的BMI参考值.     

中国2～18岁儿童青少年超重和肥胖筛查体重指数界值点的研究

目的 研究中国2～18岁儿童青少年超重、肥胖筛查体重指数(BMI)界值点.方法 在中国0～18岁儿童青少年BMI生长参照值的基础上,根据常用的超重、肥胖筛查界值点选择方法(与成年人界值点接轨法、百分位法或Z分值法),初步分别确定[BMI 24kg/m2 (BMI24)、28 kg/m2(BMI28)]、(P85、P95)和(Z1、Z2)三组界值点,通过对不同界值点进行差值和检出率比较,并与中国肥胖问题工作组(WGOC)和国际肥胖问题工作组(IOTF)的超重、肥胖界值点做对比分析,最后确定适宜界值点.结果 按照不同的超重、肥胖筛查BMI界值点选择方法获得三组界值点,不同界值点之间存在不同程度差异,但在超重合并肥胖检出率上差异相对较小.与WGOC相比,男章超重、肥胖及女童肥胖界值点非常接近,女童在8.5～15.5岁其超重界值点比WGOC标准低0.3～1.0 kg/m2,通过筛查"2004年北京市儿童代谢综合征调查"数据库,女童超重检出率比WGOC标准高约3.4%.结论 采用与成年人界值点接轨法(BMI24、BMI28)获得的中国2～18岁儿童青少年超重、肥胖筛查BMI界值点是适宜的,实现了在使用BMI指标上年龄的连贯性和筛查标准的一致性.     

徐州市0~7岁儿童身高、体重与体质指数研究

目的:对比世界通用的一些标准,建立徐州市0~7岁儿童年龄别身高(HFA)、年龄别体重(WFA)及年龄别体质指数(BM I)百分位标准及体质指数超重和肥胖界值点。方法:①采用分层整群随机抽样法,收集徐州市0~7岁儿童11 747例的性别、出生年月及2002~2004年身高和体重测量资料。②应用LMS方法建立徐州市0~7岁儿童HFA、WFA和BM I百分位曲线。结果:①运用LMS软件,分别获得0~7岁男女童HFA、WFA和BM I百分位曲线各9条,为P3、P5、P10、P25、P50、P75、P90、P95和P97。②徐州市男女童的身高随年龄不断增加,男童到6岁以后逐渐减缓,女童5岁后逐渐减缓。徐州市男女童的身高在7岁之前均大于WHO标准。③徐州市男女童的体重随年龄不断增加,到6岁以后均逐渐减缓。徐州市男女童体重7岁之前均高于WHO标准。④根据国际肥胖工作小组制定的7岁男女儿童肥胖和超重界值点,徐州市男女童7岁时通过该界值点的BM I百分位分别为:男童第72.6和第92.6,女童第82.1和第96.5。7岁男女童的超重流行率分别为27.4%和17.9%,肥胖流行率分别为7.4%和3.5%,在性别上存在差异。结论:应用LMS软件,获得了徐州市0~7岁儿童身高、体重和BM I百分位参考值。     

海口市7~14岁儿童腰围界值点及其肥胖相关性分析

目的分析海口市7~14岁儿童在超重和肥胖层面的腰围界值点,为儿童超重和肥胖防治策略制定提供科学依据。方法利用2016—2019年“海南省学生健康档案管理系统”,采用PPS抽样方法抽取海口220所中小学校,对学校整群抽样7~14岁儿童调取身高、体重和腰围数据进行整理分析。结果共计分析283054名7~14岁儿童,各年龄组儿童的平均腰围值和百分位点腰围值均低于全国平均腰围,腰围均随着年龄增长而持续增加。各年龄组儿童腰围男生均大于女生(P<0.0001),城市均高于农村(P<0.0001)。在超重层面,男童和女童界值点集中P 75~P 80(56.50~71.75 cm)、P 80~P 85(54.50~68.50 cm)。在肥胖层面,男童7~11岁和12~14岁的界值点分别是P 85(58.5~72.50 cm)、P 90(75.50~79.50 cm),女生7岁和8~14岁的界值点范围在分别是P 85(56.50 cm)和P 90(59.85~71.50 cm)。结论该地区在超重层面,男童和女童的界值点分别为56.50~71.75 cm和54.50~68.50 cm;肥胖层面,男童和女童的界值点分别是58.50~79.50 cm和56.50~71.50 cm。除了男生7岁和女生9岁超重界值点及女生青春期前8~10岁肥胖界值点外,其他各年龄组超重和肥胖界值点与全国的一致。     

青岛市城阳区儿童超重、肥胖患病率调查

目的 了解青岛市城阳区儿童超重和肥胖患病现状.方法 以随机整群抽样的方法 , 抽取青岛市城阳区5 450名儿童测查身高、体重,以中国学龄儿童超重、肥胖筛查体重指数(BMI)分类标准计算超重和肥胖的患病率.结果 青岛市城阳区3～18岁儿童超重、肥胖总检出率分别为12.8%、9.0%,其中男童分别为13.9%、9.9%,女童分别11.6%、8.4%.4～7岁肥胖检出率女童大于男童,差异无统计学意义(P<0.05).7～13岁男童和女童肥胖检出率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).13～18岁肥胖检出率男童大于女童,差异无统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 青岛市城阳区儿童超重和肥胖日益增多, 必须加强对儿童肥胖的防治.     

鄂伦春族聚居区小学生2013—2018年体格发育监测

  目的  了解2013—2018年鄂伦春聚居区鄂伦春自治旗实验小学7~12岁儿童身体体格发育情况,为开展体质与健康工作提供科学依据。  方法  根据《国家学生体质健康标准(2014年修订版)》和2018年由国家卫生和计划生育委员会发布的“学龄儿童青少年超重与肥胖筛查”标准,分析鄂伦春自治旗实验小学7~12岁儿童近6年身高、体重和体质量指数(BMI)均值及增长率。  结果  2013—2018年7~12岁男女童的身高和体重均呈现增长趋势,身高增长值男童分别为1.8,1.7,1.9,2.6,5.7,5.9 cm,女童分别为2.8,4.5,1.9,1.8,3.6,2.9 cm;体重增长值男童分别为2.2,2.5,5.1,6.3,6.4,7.2 kg,女童分别为2.4,3.6,3.1,1.3,4.6,3.0 kg。其中7~8岁女童增长率高于男童,9~12岁男童增长率高于女童。随着年龄增加,7~12岁男女童BMI均值均呈现上升趋势,同年龄男童BMI始终高于女童。其中,2018年7~12岁男童BMI均值均超过超重的临界值。  结论  鄂伦春族7~12岁儿童的身体形态随着年龄增加而增加,但发展趋向于超重肥胖。     

2015年乌鲁木齐市7岁以下维吾尔族和汉族儿童体格发育及脂肪重聚年龄

目的了解乌鲁木齐市7岁以下维吾尔族和汉族儿童体格发育情况,并计算脂肪重聚发生年龄。方法通过分层整群抽样的方法,于2015年6月抽取乌鲁木齐市7个区、1个县7岁以下9682名维汉(维吾尔族)儿童(男童5139人,女童4543人,汉族6152人,维族3530人),测量其身高、体重、坐高、头围、胸围,比较维汉民族男女童身高别体重(weight for height Z-score,WHZ)的差异,绘制维汉男女童WHZ曲线并通过双变量随机模型和自然增长模型推算维汉男女童脂肪重聚年龄并进行比较。结果不同年龄组的维汉男女童比较发现,低年龄组体格发育差异较为显著,并且在婴幼儿期各项体格发育指标均高于高年龄组儿童;在维、汉男童WHZ比较中,0月~(t=4.277,P<0.001)、6月~(t=2.133,P=0.033)、5岁~(t=2.278,P=0.023)、6~7岁(t=2.503,P=0.013)及各段合计组(t=5.238,P<0.001)差异均有统计学意义,维、汉女童WHZ比较中,0月~(t=2.533,P=0.011)和1岁~组(t=-2.141,P=0.033)差异有统计学意义。7岁以下维、汉男童超重和肥胖总体检出率高于女童(超重率:维族男童7.97%,女童5.46%,汉族男童12.55%,女童5.90%;肥胖率:维族男童5.58%,女童3.48%,汉族男童7.73%,女童3.92%),而维族女童超重-肥胖比(OOR=1.57)高于男童(OOR=1.43),汉族女童超重-肥胖比(OOR=1.50)低于男童(OOR=1.62)。经数学模型计算汉族男童脂肪重聚发生最早[3.94(95%CI 3.54~4.33)岁],其次为维族男童[4.17(95%CI 2.70~5.72)岁]和汉族女童[4.56(95%CI 4.14~4.99)岁],维族女童脂肪重聚发生最迟[5.57(95%CI 4.00~7.13)岁]。结论 2015年乌鲁木齐市7岁以下汉族儿童超重和肥胖发生率均高于维族儿童,且汉族儿童脂肪重聚年龄早于维吾尔族儿童。     

北京市儿童少年体重指数与体脂百分比关系的分析

目的 分析北京市儿童少年体重指数(BMI)和体脂百分比(PBF)的关系并比较两者判定肥胖的一致性。方法 抽取北京城区757名女生(平均10.1岁),郊区165名女生(平均13.5岁)和郊区172名男生(平均13.7岁),用双能X线吸收仪测定体成分,并计算BMI。结果 北京市城区女生、郊区女生和男生在各年龄段BMI与PBF呈中、高度相关,r=0.59～0.83。与PBF判定的肥胖(男生:PBF≥25％,女生:PBF≥35％)相比,国际肥胖工作小组(IOTF)提出的分年龄、性别BMI切点判定肥胖时有较高的特异度,达100％,而灵敏度较差,只有7.3％～18.9％。结论 北京市儿童少年BMI和PBF呈中高度相关,IOTF提出的分年龄、性别的BMI切点对于确定中国儿童高体脂水平具有较高特异性,适合儿童肥胖的判定,而不适用于儿童肥胖的筛查。     

A comparison of distribution curves of body mass index from Brazil and the United States for assessing overweight and obesity in Brazilian adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of recommendations for use of the 85th and 95th percentiles of body mass index (BMI) of the population in the United States of America as a screening tool to assess overweight/obesity in adolescents. METHODS: We investigated the relation between BMI and percent body fat in 1,540 adolescents (717 males and 823 females) aged 10 to 17.9 years old from a private high school in Niterói, a city in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We used bioelectric impedance, with the appropriate equations for adolescents, to estimate percent body fat, which served as the gold standard (30% for girls and 25% for boys) to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of the 85th and 95th percentiles of the United States and Brazilian distribution curves of BMI. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity were high (above 80%) for the Niterói boys, except for the 85th percentile of the Brazilian curve (specificity = 61.8%) and for the 95th percentile of the United States curve (sensitivity = 55.4%). For the Niterói girls, the 85th- and 95th-percentile BMI cutoff points, from both the United States and Brazilian curves, showed low sensitivity, and that sensitivity decreased with age. Specificity was high for the girls, and much higher than it was for the boys. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that using BMI to screen for overweight/obesity in adolescents can generate a high percentage of false-positives for Niterói boys and an even higher percentage of false-negatives for Niterói girls. A more universal approach to using anthropometric measures to screen for overweight/obesity should be developed, preferably linked to stages of maturation.     

Percent body fat cutoff values for classifying overweight and obesity recommended by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) in Korean children

OBJECTIVE: To predict the percent body fat (%BF) cutoff values corresponding to overweight and obesity recommended by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) in Korean children and to compare those values with the published cutoff values in Caucasian children. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The sample consisted of 1083 Korean children and adolescents (555 boys and 528 girls) aged 7-18 years from 3 schools. Body mass index (BMI) and %BF using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer were measured. The classification of overweight and obesity was based on the age- and sex-specific BMI cutoff values of the IOTF guidelines. RESULTS: The predicted %BF cutoff values for overweight and obesity varied by age and sex: overweight, 17-22% in boys and 24-37% in girls; obesity, 24-30% in boys and 30-53% in girls. Those %BF cutoff values in older Korean boys tended to be lower than the published %BF cutoff values in Caucasian boys. While %BF cutoff values for overweight in Korean girls were similar to the values in Caucasian girls, %BF cutoff values for obesity in Korean girls aged 13-18 years were higher compared to cutoff values in Caucasian girls. CONCLUSION: The %BF values associated with the IOTF-recommended BMI cutoff values for overweight and obesity may require age- and sex-specific cutoff values in Korean children aged 7-18 years.     

乌鲁木齐市维吾尔族和汉族7～18岁人群体重指数分类标准比较

目的探讨使用偏度-中位数-变异系数法（LMS法）建立并比较乌鲁木齐市7～18岁维吾尔族（维族）和汉族青少年超重、肥胖的体重指数（BMI）分类标准。方法采用分层整群抽样方法，调查新疆乌鲁木齐市7～18岁维、汉族中小学生9146人，绘制两民族7～18岁青少年年龄别、性别BMI百分位曲线，确定18岁时分别通过国际肥胖工作组（IOTF）和中国肥胖问题工作组（WGOC）成年人超重、肥胖标准的特殊百分位数曲线，由此获得两民族7～18岁人群超重和肥胖的界值标准。结果18岁时通过25及30kg／m^2的百分位曲线：维族男生为P94.46和P99.58，维族女生为P92.44和P99.64，汉族男生为P85.05和P97.26，汉族女生为P90.92和P99.03；通过24及28kg／m^2的百分位曲线维族男生为P90.54和P98.86，维族女生为P86.96和P98.77，汉族男生为P78.98和P94.72，汉族女生为P86.15和P97.56。结论BMI分布具有民族特异性；对维族青少年超重、肥胖筛检时建议参考使用该研究标准。     

Accuracy of different body mass index reference values to predict body fat in adolescents

This study evaluates the accuracy of cutoff points in the body mass index (BMI) for identifying adolescents with overweight, compared to the percentage of body fat, estimated by electric bioimpediance, in a probabilistic sample of 610 adolescents from 12 to 19 years of age (222 boys and 388 girls) enrolled in public schools in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ROC was used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of BMI cutoffs from one Brazilian, two North American, and one international reference. The cutoff points in the study sample were lower than the other references, with 76% to 95% sensitivity and 75% to 95% specificity. The Brazilian cutoff points were also more sensitive (53% to 100%) as compared to the other references (40% to 86%). The international parameter showed better sensitivity for older adolescents, and the Northern American references for younger adolescents. BMI was a good proxy for adiposity, but cutoff points from other population references should be used with caution, since they can lead to classification errors in adolescents with overweight.     

Diagnosis of overweight in adolescents: comparative study of the performance different criteria for body mass index

OBJECTIVE: In an attempt to simplify the screening process for detecting obesity in adolescence, the performance of different cutoff values for body mass index (BMI) was assessed in a population-based cohort in Southern Brazil. METHODS: A total of 493 adolescents aged 15-16 years who lived in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, were studied. Obesity was defined according to the WHO criteria taking into account age and sex (a BMI equal to or greater than the 85th percentile of the NHANES I reference, plus subscapular and triceps skinfold equal to or greater than the 90th percentile of the same reference). Different BMI cutoff values were used to assess their specificity and sensitivity. RESULTS: For boys, BMI>/=25 kg/m(2) showed the best performance for detecting obesity, with a sensitivity of 90% and only 5% of false positives. The Brazilian proposed criteria that was used had 100% sensitivity but up to 23% of false positives. Higher cutoff values were also tested, but there was a slight increase in specificity, accompanied by a marked reduction in sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The BMI cutoff of 25 kg/m(2) presented the best performance for screening obesity in the studied sample, and it is recommended for adolescents aged 15 and more in populations with similar characteristics. It provides a single cutoff value to be used in primary health services, eliminating the need for age and sex-specific values and skinfold measurements, and it is also consistent with the cutoff value proposed to identifying overweight adults.     

Association between overweight or obesity and household income and parental body mass index in Australian youth: analysis of the Australian National Nutrition Survey, 1995

This study is a secondary data analysis based on the 1995 Australian National Nutrition Survey (NNS). A random subsample of 1581 school children aged 7-15 years old from the NNS was studied. The results show the prevalence of overweight, obesity and combined overweight and obesity was 10.6-20.9%, 3.7-7.2% and 15.6-25.7%, respectively. The odds ratio of overweight or obese boys with highest household income was significantly smaller than those with the lowest household income. The proportion of combined overweight and obesity in children whose parents were overweight or obese was significantly greater compared with those whose parents were not. The trend of increasing prevalence of overweight or obesity among children with increasing parental body mass index (BMI) was significant after adjusting for age except the trend of father's BMI for boys. This study provided baseline data on the recent prevalence of overweight or obesity of Australian school children using new international absolute BMI cut-off points. It indicated that young school girls (7-9 years) were more likely to be overweight or obese compared with boys, the prevalence rates of overweight or obesity in older boys (13-15 year) was significantly greater than in other age groups while in girls it was the opposite. The boys with lowest household income ($0-17 500) were more likely to be overweight or obese compared with those with the highest household income (greater than $67 500). Having parents especially mothers who were overweight or obese may increase the risk of children being overweight or obese.     

Re-evaluation of WHO-defined BMI cutoff value for defining overweight and obesity in the Bengalee (Indian) population

Body mass index (BMI) is the most useful epidemiological measure of obesity. However, there is increasing evidence suggesting that World Health Organization (WHO)-proposed BMI cutoff points for overweight and obesity cannot be readily applied to the Asian population. Thus, the purpose of this study was to establish appropriate cutoff points of BMI for defining overweight and obesity based on body fat percentage (BF%) of the Bengalee (Indian) population. The study was conducted on 654 subjects (18–60 years), of which 336 were men and 318 were women. The subjects were selected from different parts of the state of West Bengal, India. Anthropometric measures and blood pressure were obtained using standard techniques. The BMI and BF% were calculated using the standard equation. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was done to determine the appropriate cutoff points of BMI for overweight and obesity while taking BF% as the standard. Based on BMI, 12.50 % of men and 13.84 % of women were overweight and 1.79 % of men and 1.89 % of women were obese. On the basis of WHO gold standard, 18.75 % of men and 14.47 % of women were overweight and 9.82 % of men and 9.43 % of women were obese. ROC curve analysis showed a low sensitivity and high specificity of conventional cutoff points of BMI for identifying overweight and obesity. A lower cutoff value of BMI 21.87 kg/m² for overweight and BMI 24.33 kg/m² for obesity displayed good sensitivity and specificity, and an optimum area under the curve. We suggest a BMI of 21.87 and 24.33 kg/m² as the optimum cutoff points to define overweight and obesity, respectively, for the Bengalee population.     

Use of BMI as a measure of overweight and obesity in a field study on 5-7 year old children

Summary Objective The present field study examines the use of BMI in comparison with estimates of percent fat mass to screen for overweight and obesity in children. Design Cross-sectional field study. Setting Four waves of children 1996–1999 at Kiel, North West Germany. Subjects A representative large sample of 2286 5–7 year old children representing 40 % of the total child population examined by school physicians within the same period in Kiel. Main outcome measures BMI was compared with anthropometric measures (TSF, BSF, SIF, SSF) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The 90^th and 97^th BMI percentiles were used as cut offs for overweight and obesity, respectively. Results BMI reached a low sensitivity to identify overweight children when compared with the two estimates of % FM (0.60 to 0.78 for girls, 0.71 to 0.82 for boys, respectively). The specificity of BMI was 93 to 95 %. By contrast, BMI reached higher sensitivity to screen for obese children of 0.83 to 0.85 for boys and 0.62 to 0.80 for girls at a concomitant specificity of 0.95 to 0.98 for boys and 0.96 to 0.97 for girls as defined by assessment of body fat mass. Comparing nutritional status of overweight children classified as overweight or non overweight by BMI shows that BMI only identified obese but not-overweight children. Conclusion BMI can be used to screen for obese children. In contrast BMI has a poor sensitivity to screen for overweight children. Body composition analysis should be used to screen for children at risk of becoming obese. Received: 10 October 2001, Accepted: 21 December 2001