OBJECTIVE: To establish body mass index (BMI) percentile curves for adults and to compare these in 1980 with those in 2005 among Japanese men and women. METHODS: Participants included 8080 community residents aged 20-79 years who had a health check-up in 1980 and 5616 community residents aged 20-79 years who had a health check-up in 2005. Sex-specific percentile curves for BMI were constructed using the LMS method. We presented the 3rd, 5th, 15th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 85th, 95th, and 97th percentile curves. RESULTS: From 1980 to 2005, the BMI percentile values of men increased, especially the 95th and 97th percentile values in men aged 20-39 years. The BMI distribution of young men in 2005 was wider than that in 1980. From 1980 to 2005, the 50th percentile values of women in 2005 were lower than those in 1980. However, the 95th percentile values of women increased among women aged less than 50 years. CONCLUSION: We were able to confirm the existence of BMI percentile values depending on date, age, and sex by establishing BMI percentile curves.
OBJECTIVE: To establish body mass index (BMI) percentile curves for adults and to compare these in 1980 with those in 2005 among Japanese men and women. METHODS:Participants included 8080 community residents aged 20-79 years who had a health check-up in 1980 and 5616 community residents aged 20-79 years who had a health check-up in 2005. Sex-specific percentile curves for BMI were constructed using the LMS method. We presented the 3rd, 5th, 15th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 85th, 95th, and 97th percentile curves. RESULTS: From 1980 to 2005, the BMI percentile values of men increased, especially the 95th and 97th percentile values in men aged 20-39 years. The BMI distribution of young men in 2005 was wider than that in 1980. From 1980 to 2005, the 50th percentile values of women in 2005 were lower than those in 1980. However, the 95th percentile values of women increased among women aged less than 50 years. CONCLUSION: We were able to confirm the existence of BMI percentile values depending on date, age, and sex by establishing BMI percentile curves.