New curves for body mass index among children and adolescents

Abstract

The author has completed the ICMJE form and declares no conflicts of interest. The Norwegian curves for body mass index published in 2009 included international cutoff values for overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. Here, we present an update of this curve which now includes a cutoff for severe obesity, and argue why it should be used. The body mass index (BMI), expressed in kg/m , is used in clinical practice to identify children with aberrant weight. Because the BMI evolves naturally as children grow, BMI reference curves are used for evaluation, on which the BMI is ploed by age.