Prevalence of Underweight Among Children and Adolescents Aged 2–19 Years: United States, 1963–1965 Through 2017–2018
by Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H., Margaret D. Carroll, M.S.P.H., and Joseph Afful, M.S., Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
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Underlying health conditions can result in children and adolescents being underweight. Additionally, underweight can indicate malnutrition. Body mass index (BMI), expressed as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m2), is used commonly to classify weight status among children and adolescents. Cutoff criteria are based on the sex-specific BMI-for-age 2000 CDC Growth Charts for the United States. Based on current recommendations from expert committees, children and adolescents with BMI values below the sex- and age-specific 5th percentile of the growth charts are categorized as underweight.
Results from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), using measured heights and weights, indicate that an estimated 4.1% of children and adolescents aged 2–19 years are underweight.
The Table shows the prevalence of underweight among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years by age and sex, from 1963–1965 through 2017–2018.
NHANES, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, is a stratified, multistage probability sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States. A household interview and a physical examination are conducted for each survey participant. During the physical examination, conducted in a mobile examination center, height and weight are measured as part of a more comprehensive set of body measurements. These measurements are taken by trained health technicians, using standardized measuring procedures and equipment. Observations for pregnant females and for persons missing a valid height or weight measurement are not included in the data analysis.
For additional information on NHANES methods, visit: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/analyticguidelines.aspx.
This Health E-Stat supersedes the earlier version, “Prevalence of Underweight Among Children and Adolescents Aged 2–19 Years: United States, 1963–1965 Through 2015–2016”.
Suggested citation
Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Afful J. Prevalence of underweight among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years: United States, 1963–1965 through 2017–2018. NCHS Health E-Stats. 2020.
Table
| Survey period | Sample size (n) | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2–5 years | 6–11 years | 12–19 years | Boys | Girls | |||
| Percent (standard error) | |||||||
| 1963–1965 | 7,047 | – – – | – – – | 5.8 (0.6) | – – – | – – – | – – – |
| 1966–19701 | 6,768 | – – – | – – – | – – – | 4.6 (0.3) | – – – | – – – |
| 1971–1974 | 7,041 | 5.1 (0.3) | 5.8 (0.5) | 5.3 (0.5) | 4.7 (0.5) | 5.0 (0.3) | 5.3 (0.5) |
| 1976–1980 | 7,351 | 4.5 (0.3) | 5.3 (0.4) | 4.2 (0.4) | 4.4 (0.4) | 5.0 (0.4) | 4.1 (0.3) |
| 1988–1994 | 10,777 | 4.0 (0.3) | 4.3 (0.4) | 3.9 (0.6) | 3.9 (0.6) | 4.2 (0.5) | 3.8 (0.5) |
| 1999–2000 | 4,039 | 4.2 (0.4) | 5.1 (1.3) | 4.3 (0.9) | 3.7 (0.6) | 4.9 (0.9) | 3.5 (0.7) |
| 2001–2002 | 4,261 | 3.4 (0.3) | 2.8 (0.8) | 3.4 (0.3) | 3.7 (0.6) | 3.7 (0.5) | 3.1 (0.4) |
| 2003–2004 | 3,961 | 3.2 (0.3) | 3.7 (1.0) | 3.0 (0.7) | 3.2 (0.7) | 3.6 (0.4) | 2.9 (0.5) |
| 2005–2006 | 4,207 | 3.2 (0.4) | 1.9 (0.4) | 2.3 (0.7) | 4.5 (0.7) | 3.7 (0.7) | 2.7 (0.4) |
| 2007–2008 | 3,249 | 3.7 (0.4) | 3.8 (0.9) | 3.0 (0.7) | 4.2 (0.6) | 3.8 (0.8) | 3.6 (0.4) |
| 2009–2010 | 3,408 | 3.3 (0.4) | 3.1 (0.5) | 4.2 (0.7) | 2.8 (0.6) | 3.3 (0.5) | 3.4 (0.5) |
| 2011–2012 | 3,355 | 3.5 (0.5) | 3.2 (0.7) | 3.6 (0.8) | 3.6 (0.7) | 4.2 (1.1) | 2.8 (0.5) |
| 2013–2014 | 3,523 | 3.8 (0.4) | 3.4 (0.8) | 4.8 (1.1) | 3.2 (0.8) | 3.6 (0.6) | 4.0 (0.5) |
| 2015–2016 | 3,340 | 3.0 (0.6) | 2.3 (0.9) | 2.5 (0.6) | 3.7 (1.0) | 3.6 (1.0) | 2.5 (0.6) |
| 2017–2018 | 2,824 | 4.1 (0.5) | 3.4 (0.9) | 3.6 (0.7) | 4.7 (0.8) | 5.0 (0.7) | 3.1 (0.6) |
– – – Data not available. National Health Examination Surveys (NHES) 1963–1965 did not include boys and girls aged 2–5 and 12–19. NHES 1966–1970 did not include boys and girls aged 2–5 and 6–11.
1Data are for adolescents aged 12–17, not 12–19.
NOTES: Underweight is body mass index (BMI) less than the 5th percentile from the sex-specific BMI-for-age 2000 CDC Growth Charts. Pregnant females are excluded from analysis beginning with 1971–1974. Pregnancy status was not available for 1963–1965 and 1966–1970.
SOURCES: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Examination Surveys, 1963–1965 and 1966–1970; and National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1971–1974, 1976–1980, 1988–1994, and 1999–2018.