Reference data for obesity: 85th and 95th percentiles of body mass index (wt/ht2) and triceps skinfold thickness

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 53; no. 4; pp. 839 - 846
• Main Authors: Must, A, Dallal, GE, Dietz, WH
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01-04-1991; American Society for Clinical Nutrition
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; ADULTE; ADULTOS; African Continental Ancestry Group; AGE; Age Factors; Aged; ALTURA; Biological and medical sciences; body mass indcx; Body Mass Index; Child; EDAD; ENCUESTAS NUTRICIONALES; ENFANT; ENQUETE NUTRITIONNELLE; ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA; ETATS UNIS; European Continental Ancestry Group; Female; GROUPE ETHNIQUE; GRUPOS ETNICOS; HAUTEUR; Humans; JEUNESSE; JUVENTUD; Male; Medical sciences; MEDICION DEL CUERPO; MENSURATION CORPORELLE; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; NINOS; NORMAS; NORME; Obesity; Obesity - pathology; PERSONNE AGEE; PESO; POIDS; reference standards; Reference Values; Sex Factors; SEXE; SEXO; Skinfold Thickness; SOBREPESO; SURPOIDS; TERCERA EDAD; triceps skinfold thickness; Obesity; body mass indcx; reference standards; triceps skinfold thickness; Human; Exploration; Metabolic diseases; Corporal biometry
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/53.4.839

Body mass index (BMI) and triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) are commonly used measures of adiposity in clinical and epidemiologic studies. The 85th and 95th percentiles of BMI and TSF are often used operationally to define obesity and superobesity, respectively. Race-specific and population-based 85th and 95th percentiles of BMI and TSF for people aged 6–74 y were generated from anthropometric data gathered in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I (NHANES I). The complex sample design of the survey is reflected in the reference values presented. Racial differences in these extremes of the distribution do not emerge until adulthood. Researchers may choose population-based, race-specific, or age-specific criteria for obesity on the basis of assumptions underlying their specific research questions.