RD - Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Practice Test

Which growth chart is recommended by the CDC to assess weight in relation to stature in children ages 2 to 20 years?

1. BMI-for-age

2. Length-for-age

3. Weight-for-age

4. Stature-for-age

The correct answer is: BMI-for-age

The BMI-for-age growth chart is recommended by the CDC to assess weight in relation to stature in children ages 2 to 20 years because body mass index (BMI) is a widely recognized and effective measure for evaluating body weight relative to height. This metric helps to identify underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity statuses in children and adolescents, which are crucial for monitoring growth patterns and health risks associated with weight. Using BMI-for-age takes into account the normal variations in body composition during different stages of growth, making it particularly useful as children progress through these stages. Furthermore, it uses age and sex-specific percentiles to evaluate whether a child's BMI falls within a healthy range compared to peers, allowing for tailored assessments that reflect the diverse growth patterns seen in the pediatric population. This approach is distinct from the other methods mentioned, such as length-for-age, weight-for-age, and stature-for-age, which do not provide as comprehensive a view of weight status relative to height, especially in older children and adolescents. These other measurements focus on different aspects of growth and may not effectively convey risks associated with body weight in relation to height during this critical age range.