Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Jun 6.
Published in final edited form as: Pediatr Dent. 2010 Sep-Oct;32(5):417–423.

Table 4.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) WEIGHT CATEGORIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

BMI % for age
and sex		 BMI category Recommendations
0-<5 Underweight

  • Continue height/weight/BMI measurement at 6-month recall visits.

  • Formal letter of referral (including anthropometric values) to pediatrician for further evaluation and assessment of underweight.
5-<85 Healthy Weight

  • Continue height/weight/BMI measurement at 6-month recall visits.

  • Encourage continuation of healthy habits.

  • Counseling focused on healthy recommendations for “at risk of overweight” patients.
85-<95 Overweight

  • Continue height/weight/BMI measurement at 6-month recall visits.

  • Referral (including anthropometric values) to pediatrician for further evaluation and assessment of overweight within 6 months.

  • Identify unhealthy habits and make healthy recommendations.
≥95 Obese

  • Continue height/weight/BMI measurement at 6-month recalls.

  • Referral (including anthropometric values) to pediatrician for immediate evaluation and assessment of of overweight or obese status.

  • Referral to registered dietitian.