What constitutes obesity in children based on percentile criteria?

Obesity in children is defined using the body mass index (BMI) and is assessed in relation to age and gender percentiles. Specifically, a child is classified as obese when their BMI is above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and gender. This criterion is based on established growth charts and is utilized to identify children who are at an increased risk for various health issues associated with obesity.

The cut-off at the 95th percentile signifies that a child falls within the top 5% of the population in terms of BMI for their age and sex, indicating a significant deviation from what is considered a healthy weight range. This classification helps in monitoring public health trends and assists healthcare providers in targeting interventions and education for affected children and their families. Additionally, this clear delineation at the 95th percentile provides a standardized measure that enables more accurate assessments and comparisons across different populations.