Prior to the update, BMI charts for children ages 2 to 19 had been published in 2000 and were based on data from 1963 to 1980 when obesity rates in children were much lower.

The CDC site contains information on calculation of BMI with examples, downloadable charts for children between the ages of 2 years and 20 years, and an extensive list of references.

Last year, the CDC updated its 22-year-old pediatric BMI-for-age growth charts to add BMIs above the 97th percentile for the first time in order to track severe obesity in children aged 2 to 19 years.

A child is considered obese if they reach the 95th percentile on the growth charts, and severely obese at 120% of that mark — or with a BMI of 35 or higher, according to the CDC.

When looking at children and adolescents at or above the 95th percentile for BMI, it’s important to remember that the CDC growth charts were drafted roughly 50 years ago.

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BMI charts are available from birth to age two, but are generally not used in clinical care. Unlike BMI charts, the more widely used WFL charts, do not have an age component; therefore, children ...

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Background: Weight for height in children is often assessed by comparing the child's weight-for-age centile with their height-for-age centile. However, this assessment has not been validated ...

BMI charts are available from birth to age two, but are generally not used in clinical care. Unlike BMI charts, the more widely used WFL charts, do not have an age component; therefore, children ...