Criteria for definition of overweight in transition: background and recommendations for the United States

Overweight and obesity are leading nutrition-related disorders of clinical and public health concern. Assessment and classification of these condition s are dependent on specific body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) cutoff points . US government agencies are making the transition to a revised BMI definit ion of overweight from that previously recommended for general use. The pur pose of this article is to inform the broader medical and scientific commun ities of the transition that is underway in the United States to identify a nd classify overweight among adults by using BMI. Historical background on the use of BMI in a variety of applications, as reported in US federal gove rnment agency documents, provides an understanding of previous and current weight-for-height guidelines and the basis for arriving at them. On the bas is of the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, US government agencies are moving toward the use of criteria for overweight and obesity that are c onsistent with current international standards. Clinicians, researchers, an d journal editors should be aware of the transition toward a common definit ion of healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. To facilitate comparisons a nd reporting of data, others are encouraged to consider making this transit ion as well.