Fryar et al. (NHANES)
About this reference
Fryar and colleagues analysed measured height and weight data from the NHANES survey (August 2021–August 2023), a nationally representative study of the US civilian non-institutionalised population. Measurements were taken at mobile examination centres by trained health technicians — not self-reported — making the data more reliable than survey-based estimates. The resulting percentiles are weighted to represent the US adult population.
Known limitations
- US population only — the US has one of the highest obesity rates among major countries (over 40% of adults are obese), so these percentiles skew substantially higher than global or European/Asian distributions
- Cross-sectional design means values reflect population averages, not individual changes over time
- BMI does not distinguish fat mass from lean mass — muscular individuals may be classified as overweight
- WHO BMI thresholds may not apply equally across ethnic groups (e.g. East Asian populations have higher health risks at lower BMI values)