Single definition of overweight and obesity should be used

EDITOR—In May 2000 the BMJ published details of a new reference standard for childhood obesity developed by the International Obesity Task Force.1 The task force's standards take a logical and pragmatic approach to the problem of defining the cut-off points of body mass index indicating overweight and obesity in children. In adults these cut-off points are based on the morbidity and mortality associated with excess weight. In the absence of such data in children the task force defined the cut-off points for young people …