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There are several advantages to using BMI-for-age as a screening tool
for overweight and underweight. BMI-for-age provides a reference for
adolescents that was not previously available. When the 1977 NCHS growth
charts were developed, weight-for-height percentiles were provided only
for prepubescent girls up to 10 years and for boys up to 11.5 years.
BMI-for-age is the only indicator that allows us to plot a measure of
weight and height with age on the same chart. Age and stage of sexual
maturation are highly related to body fatness. BMI-for-age was not
available in the 1977 charts.
Another advantage is that BMI-for-age is the measure that is consistent
with the adult index so BMI can be used continuously from 2 years of age
to adulthood.
BMI can be used to track body size beginning at 2 years of age and
continue throughout the life cycle. This is important since BMI in
childhood is a determinant of adult BMI.
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