Description

For children ages 6 to 17 (and 3-17 in 2001-2002), BMIKID reports the child's Body Mass Index (BMI) based on the child's reported height and weight. Height is converted from feet and inches to centimeters, and weight is converted from pounds and ounces to kilograms. A preliminary BMI is then calculated using the formula [weight in kilograms] / [([height in centimeters]/100) squared] using the procedure described on the CDC website.

Beginning in 2018 BMIKID is fielded every other year and will only be collected in even years. See our user note for more details on this and other changes that occurred in 2018.

IPUMS MEPS reports the universe for each variable based on a thorough review of the original MEPS documentation. Investigating the data may reveal cases that do not meet the stated universe. Users are encouraged to validate universes for their analyses. The child height and weight variables are not included in the public use MEPS data to preserve confidentiality.

In cases where height in feet was reported and greater than zero but height in inches was missing, height in inches was set to 6 inches

The universe and bottom and top-coding procedures for BMIKID change over time. See the comparability tab for more information.

BMIKID is part of a series of questions asked about child preventive care, which is collected on the Child Preventive Health Supplement. See HGTMEAS for more information on the series of child preventive care questions and LESSHLTHY for more information on the Child Preventive Health Supplement.

BMIKID is a 4-digit numeric variable with one implied decimal place.

0: Not in Universe
10.6: 10.6- (bottom-coded in 2001 only)
39.2: 39.2+ (top-coded in 2001 only)
999.9: Unknown

Comparability

The universe and bottom and top-codes for BMIKID change over time. In 2001-2002, BMIKID is available for children ages 3 to 17. For 2003 forward, BMIKID is available for children ages 6 to 17.

In 2001, height and weight are top-coded before calculating the child's BMI. Height is top-coded at 6 feet 5 inches and weight is top-coded at 260 pounds. Additionally, after calculating BMI, the bottom 1 percent of values were bottom-coded at 10.6 and the top 1 percent of values were top-coded at 39.2.

From 2002-2017, height and weight are not top-coded before calculating the child's BMI, nor is BMI bottom or top-coded.

In 2018, height and weight are not top-coded before calculating the child's BMI, but BMI is top-coded. AHRQ calculated the 99.5th percentile for BMIKID and any person that was at or above the 99.5th percentile was recoded to 9999 ("Unknown").

Universe

Availability

• 2001-2018, 2020, 2022

Weights

• 2001-2018, 2020, 2022 : PERWEIGHT

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