A review of BMI (Body Mass Index) of various countries’ teenagers has been recently published in the international medical journal “The Lancet”, according to which India is placed at 196th rank with respect to BMI in boys & ranks 198th in girls. India’s 19-year-old boys and girls have a BMI of 20.1 means they are also among the shortest in the world.
- India’s boys ranked 180th with an average height of 5.46 feet while girls ranked 182nd with an average height of 5.06 feet.
Review Coverage:
This review covered school-aged children and adolescents for ages 5-19 years from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants
Methods Used for Pooled:
For this pooled analysis, we used a database of cardiometabolic risk factors collated by the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends from 1985 to 2019 in mean height and mean BMI in 1-year age groups for ages 5–19 years. The model allowed for non-linear changes over time in mean height and mean BMI and for non-linear changes with age of children and adolescents, including periods of rapid growth during adolescence.
India’s Performance:
19 year Boys & Girls in India has BMI of 20.1.And India ranked low in BMI.The reason behind this is India had poor nutrition because of low protein and essential micronutrient intake, while urban children hailing from upper socio-economic strata have excess carbohydrates and saturated fats. “The former have low BMI and insufficient height, and latter have better height and BMI and many of them are obese.
Comparison Between Top & Bottom Countries:
Based on Height:
In 2019 there is a difference of 20 cm or higher in mean height of 19-year-old adolescents between countries with the tallest populations & those with the shortest populations.
Top 3 Countries with Tallest Boys & Girls:
| Rank | Country with Tallest Boys | Country with Tallest Girls |
| 1 | The Netherlands | The Netherlands |
| 2 | Montenegro | Montenegro |
| 3 | Estonia | Denmark |
Top 3 Countries with Shortest Boys & Girls:
| Rank | Country with Shortest Boys | Country with Tallest Girls |
| 1 | Timor-Leste | Guatemala |
| 2 | Laos | Bangladesh |
| 3 | Solomon Islands | Nepal |
Based on BMI:
In 2019, the difference between the highest mean BMI  and lowest mean BMI was approximately 9–10 kg/m².
What is BMI (Body Mass Index)?
BMI is a function of height. It is estimated as the weight in kg isolated by the square of the tallness in meters i.e. [ BMI = m/h2].‘m’ indicates mass(i.e.Weight) & ‘h’ indicate height.
- As per World Health Organization (WHO) a typical BMI ranges from 18.5 to 24.9, overweight as 25 or higher, and Obesity as 30 or higher.
Countries with Highest BMI:
| S.No | Country with highest BMI in both Boys & Girls | Country with highest BMI in Girls |
| 1 | Pacific island countries | South Africa |
| 2 | Kuwait | |
| 3 | Bahrain |
Countries with Lowest BMI:
| S.No | Country with Lowest BMI in both Boys & Girls | Country with Lowest BMI in Girls |
| 1 | India | Japan |
| 2 | Bangladesh | Romania |
| 3 | Timor-Leste |
Recent Related News:
i.On October 16, 2020, Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe released the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2020 report in which India ranked 94th among 107 countries with a score of 27.2. Although there is improvement in a score as compared to 38.9 in 2000, 37.5 in 2006, and 29.3 in 2012 but still it represents a serious level of hunger.
ii.According to Lowy Institute Asia Power Index 2020 Edition released by Sydney (Australia) based Lowy Institute, India with a score of 39.7 (out of 100) is the 4th most powerful country in Asia. The United States Topped the index with a score of 81.6.
About The Lancet:
It is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal.
Founder– Thomas Wakley
Editor-in-chief– Richard Charles Horton
