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Survey Items: Derived from: S2Q02, S2Q03, AGEYR_CHILD
Denominator: Children ages 10 - 17 years ***DATA ALERT: The number of unknown values for this variable is unusually high (6.5%). Unknown values are not included in the denominator; weighted population counts may be underestimated.
Numerator: Underweight; Healthy Weight; Overweight or Obese
Revisions and Changes:
Additional Notes: In children and teens, body mass index is used to assess underweight, overweight, and risk for overweight. Children's body fatness changes over the years as they grow. Also, girls and boys differ in their body fatness as they mature. This is why BMI for children, also referred to as BMI-for-age, is gender and age specific. (Centers for Disease Control, 2005). For more information, including how BMI-for-age is calculated, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/childrens_bmi/about_childrens_bmi.html
Treatment of Unknown Values: Unknown values (responses coded as "refused", "don't know", or system missing) were removed from the denominator when calculating prevalence estimates and weighted population counts displayed in the results tables. In the case of BMI-for-age, the rate of unknown responses is high enough (6.5%) to noticeably affect weighted population counts. In nearly all other items, the number of unknown values is less than 1%; their exclusion does not impact the prevalence estimates (%) and only marginally affects the weighted population counts (Weighted Est.).
History and Development: IMPORTANT NOTE: BMI-for-age calculated from the NSCH 2003 is based on parent-reported height and weight of children. Calculation of BMI-for-age is usually based on the age of the child in months. Because age was only reported in years for this survey, children were assumed to be at the midpoint of the age-year for purposes of calculating BMI-for-age. It should be recognized that height and weight were based on the parents’ reports and were not independently measured. Height and weight estimates based on parent reporting from the NSCH 2003 were compared to national estimates based on independent measurement from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This comparison revealed that, for children under 10 years of age, height was generally underreported and weight was generally overreported. Therefore, BMI for children under 10 years of age has not been included as part of this indicator.
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C.I. = 95% Confidence Interval. Percentages and population estimates (Pop.Est.) are weighted to represent child population in US.
DATA ALERT: The category labeling for childhood obesity has recently changed, due to updates from the CDC. For more information, click here.
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With funding and direction from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the National Survey of Children’s Health was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. CAHMI is responsible for the analyses, interpretations, presentations and conclusions included on this site.
Suggested citation format: National Survey of Children's Health. NSCH 2003. Data query from the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health website. Retrieved [mm/dd/yy] from www.childhealthdata.org.