Body mass index reference values (mean and SD) for Japanese children

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to derive the mean and +/-1, 2 and 2.5 SD body mass index (BMI) reference ranges as a supplement to the BMI centile reference values published previously for the same group of Japanese children. It is based on 14,012 boys and 13,781 girls of 1.5-18.5 years of age as studied in 1978-1981. The LMS method was utilized for the study. CONCLUSIONS: The BMI-SD reference values and charts presented have appropriately reflected the age-dependent skewed distribution of BMI values, and could be a useful tool in growth and nutritional evaluation of Japanese children.