Body Mass Index in the Pediatric Population: Understanding Its History and Current Applications

• Published in: Pediatric annals Vol. 53; no. 8; pp. e275 - e277
• Main Author: Diaz Kane, Molly M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States SLACK INCORPORATED 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Adolescents; Body Composition; Body Mass Index; Child; Children & youth; Chronic illnesses; Clinical medicine; Comorbidity; Cultural differences; Electronic health records; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Medical screening; Mental health; National Surveys; Obesity; Overweight; Patients; Pediatric Obesity; Pediatrics; Pediatrics - history; Pediatrics - methods; Physician patient relationships; Special Needs Students; Stigma; Teenagers; United States > US
• ISSN: 0090-4481; 1938-2359; 1938-2359
• DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20240715-02

Body mass index (BMI) is a tool that is commonly used to screen for obesity. There are advantages and limitations of the use of BMI in the pediatric population. It is an inexpensive and easily implemented tool that can provide insight for clinicians, patients, and caregivers. It may help guide the discussion of the potential health impacts of weight, although there are both practical and philosophical limitations to its use. Clinicians should be aware of the nuances of the use of BMI in practice. This article covers a brief history of the BMI, how it is used in pediatrics, its advantages and limitations, as well as strategies for using BMI to facilitate discussions with patients and families. .