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Measured youth body mass index (BMI), by age group and sex, household population aged 12 to 17 excluding pregnant females, Canada, 2005

                                      Measured youth body mass index
Total Neither overweight nor obese Overweight or obese Not stated
number % number % number %
Total, 12 to 17 years 2,495,644 1,777,699 71.2 717,945 28.8 F F
Males 1,278,352 842,073 65.9 436,279 34.1 F F
Females 1,217,292 935,626 76.9 281,666 E 23.1 E F F
12 to 14 years 1,254,842 894,101 71.3 360,741 28.7 F F
Males 697,454 453,276 65.0 244,178 E 35.0 E F F
Females 557,388 440,825 79.1 116,563 E 20.9 E F F
15 to 17 years 1,240,801 883,598 71.2 357,204 E 28.8 F F
Males 580,898 388,797 66.9 192,101 E 33.1 E F F
Females 659,903 494,801 75.0 165,103 E 25.0 E F F
1. Canada estimates are based on sub-sample weights.
2. Body mass index (BMI) is calculated by dividing the respondent's body weight (in kilograms) by their height (in metres) squared.
3. The index is: neither overweight nor obese; overweight; obese.
4. Body mass index (BMI) for youth is different from that of adults as they are still maturing. This variable classifies the measured BMI of children aged 12 to 17 as "obese" or "overweight" according to the age- and sex-specific BMI cut-off points as defined by Cole and others. The Cole cut-off points are based on pooled international data (Brazil, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Singapore and United States) for BMI and linked to the internationally accepted adult BMI cut-off points of 25 (overweight) and 30 (obese). Respondents who do not fall within the categories of "obese" or "overweight" (as defined by Cole and others) have been classified by the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) as "neither overweight nor obese".
5. When comparing estimates, it is important to use confidence intervals to determine if differences between values are statistically significant. Confidence intervals describe sampling variability and give an indication of the precision of a given estimate.
6. Bootstrapping techniques were used to produce the coefficient of variation (CV) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
7. Data with a coefficient of variation (CV) from 16.6% to 33.3% are identified as follows: (E) use with caution.
8. Data with a coefficient of variation (CV) greater than 33.3% were suppressed due to extreme sampling variability and are identified as follows: (F) too unreliable to be published.
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS 3.1), 2005 (CANSIM table 105-0406).