Table 1.
Cut-off points
| Growth status | Indicator | Percentile | |
| Birth to 2 years | |||
| Underweight | Weight for age | <3rd | |
| Severe underweight | Weight for age | <0.1st | |
| Stunting | Length for age | <3rd | |
| Severe stunting | Length for age | <0.1st | |
| Wasting | Weight for length | <3rd | |
| Severe wasting | Weight for length | <0.1st | |
| Risk of overweight | Weight for length | >85th | |
| Overweight | Weight for length | >97th | |
| Obesity | Weight for length | >99.9th | |
| Growth status | Indicator |
Percentile |
|
| 2–5 years† | 5–19 years† | ||
| Two to 19 years | |||
| Underweight | Weight for age | <3rd | <3rd* |
| Severe underweight | Weight for age | <0.1st | <0.1st* |
| Stunting | Height for age | <3rd | <3rd |
| Severe stunting | Height for age | <0.1st | <0.1st |
| Wasting | BMI for age | <3rd | <3rd |
| Severe wasting | BMI for age | <0.1st | <0.1st |
| Risk of overweight | BMI for age | >85th | N/A |
| Overweight | BMI for age | >97th | >85th |
| Obesity | BMI for age | >99.9th | >97th |
| Severe obesity | BMI for age | N/A | >99.9th |
*
Weight for age not recommended after 10 years of age – use body mass index (BMI) for age instead;
†
More conservative cut-off criteria are used for young children because of growth and lack of data on functional significance of upper cut-offs, and to avoid the risks of putting young children on diets. N/A Not applicable