Introduction
➤ Obesity is a complex multifactoral chronic disease that develops from an
interaction between genetics and the environment.
➤ The development of obesity involves the integration of family, behavioral,
cultural, physiological, metabolic and genetic factors.
➤ Treatment of obesity should be based on a multicomponent weight
management program.
➤ Unlike adults, who are defined as overweight or obese depending on the
absolute value of their body mass index (BMI) (kg/m
2
), BMI percentiles are
used for children and adolescents. BMI percentile indicates the position
of a child's BMI relative to children of the same sex and age (US Centers for
Disease Control Growth Charts).
➤ Throughout this pocket guide the terms "overweight" will be used to classify
children whose BMI is between the 85th and 94th percentile and "obese"
and "obesity" will be used as a general designation for children whose BMI is
greater than or equal to the 95th percentile.
Table 1. Terminology for BMI Categories
BMI Category Former Terminology
Recommended
Terminology
<5th percentile Underweight Underweight
5th to 84th percentile Healthy weight Healthy weight
85th to 94th percentile At risk of overweight Overweight
≥95th percentile Overweight or obesity Obesity
