Most commonly used definitions of overweight and obesity in children

Thresholds	Age group	Indicators	Definition
WHO Child Growth standards ( WHO 2006 ; WHO 2021a )	<5 years old	weight-for-height	Overweight: >2s.d.^a above the median Obesity: >3s.d. above the median
WHO Growth Reference data ( WHO 2021a ; WHO 2007a )	5-19 years old	BMI-for-age	Overweight: >1s.d. above the median Obesity: >2s.d. above the median
Extended International (IOTF) cut-offs for Thinness, Overweight and Obesity in Children ( World Obesity 2023 )	2-18 years old	BMI-for-age	Age- and sex-specific cut-offs that correspond to the following BMI cut-offs at 18 years: Overweight: ≥25kg/m² Obesity: ≥30 kg/m²

Originally Published \| Last Updated	17 Mar 2025 \| 24 Mar 2025
Knowledge service \| Metadata	Health Promotion Knowledge Gateway

Supporting policy with scientific evidence