Reference Body Mass Index Curves for Turkish Children 6 to 18 Years of Age

Aim: To determine reference body mass index (BMI) curves for Turkish children 6 to 18 years old and to compare with BMI in other countries. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in Kayseri, Turkey. A total of 5,727 children (2,942 girls, 2,785 boys) aged between 6 and 18 years were selected to construct a reference curve using LMS method. Results: BMI age reference charts of Turkish children were constructed. The 50 th percentile curve of Turkish girls is lower than Italian and Turkish girls in The Netherlands but higher than Iranian girls. The 50 th percentile curve of Turkish boys is lower than Italian and Turkish boys in The Netherlands and similar to Iranian boys after 13 years of age. Conclusion: BMI references of Turkish children are lower than in South East Europe, UK and North American populations, but higher than in Central European and Scandinavian countries.