Body mass index of 0 to 45-y-old Danes: reference values and comparison with published European reference values

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:To generate body mass index (weightaheight 2 (kgam 2 ), BMI) reference values for 0 to 45-y-old Danes and compare these with published European reference values. SUBJECTS: A national sample used to generate the current Danish height and weight reference (29 106 measurements made 1965 ± 1977; age 0 ± 21 y; sample I), and four samples from Copenhagen (3391 measurements made 1981 ± 1985; age 7 ± 45 y; samples II ± III and 2608 measurements made 1991 ± 1994; age 6 ± 45 y; samples IV ± V). DATA ANALYSIS: Using the LMS method, Danish BMI reference values by age and sex were constructed from samples I and II. These were compared with BMI reference values from Sweden (age 6 ± 16 (girls) or 6 ± 19 y (boys)), Germany (6 ± 19 y), UK (0 ± 23 y), and France (0 ± 87 y). Two recently examined but smaller Danish cohorts (samples IV and V) were compared with the reference values to assess the secular trend in BMI.

Differences between recumbent length and stature measurement in groups of 2- and 3-y-old children and its relevance for the use of European body mass index references

“…Moreover, these growth references will soon be widely implemented in clinical practice. Therefore, the accompanying user instructions should firstly make mention of what measurements (length or stature) were used for the percentile construction at different ages, an information presently missing in some references, 4,6 and provide correction factors as discussed above. Secondly, an explanation why the expected shift when changing measurement from length to stature is not seen in the BMI references would be of interest for the user.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] These age-specific references are considered a particularly useful tool since the percentiles used as cutoffs for overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence correspond well with the cutoffs proposed for the adult population. 1,7,9,10 Furthermore, a child's or adolescent's BMI allows predicting the probability of overweight or obesity in adulthood 11 and correlates with biochemical or clinical risk factors for cardiovascular disease.…”

“…This information is provided by the US BMI reference for use in 2-18-y-old children and adolescents, and by the Euro-Growth BMI reference for use in 0-3-y-old children, 1,2 but not by the current European BMI references comprising data from birth to adulthood. [4][5][6][7][8][9] Thus, information is needed on the agreement between the two height measurements and the magnitude of any potentially introduced error when using a measurement other than that on which the reference is based.…”

“…13 Conversely, new Europe-specific growth references for infants and children from birth to 3 y of age (Euro-Growth) include data on BMI as a reference for studies of obesity in early childhood. 2 Similarly, several national European growth charts comprise BMI reference data from birth until adulthood, [4][5][6][7][8][9] while recognising that caution is required when interpreting overweight in infancy. 9 Continuous use of BMI references from birth to adulthood requires continuous measurements of both body weight and body height.…”

A randomised controlled trial evaluating IGF1 titration in contrast to current GH dosing strategies in children born small for gestational age: the North European Small-for-Gestational-Age Study

“…SDS were derived for birth weight, birth length, height, weight, BMI, IGF1 and IGFBP3 using central countryspecific reference databases (21,22,23). Target height SDS was computed using the formula (maternal HtSDSC paternal HtSDS)/2).…”