Abstract: Objective To evaluate the accuracy of body mass index(BMI) applied in China with body fat percentage(BF%) suggested by World Health Organization(WHO) in determining overweight and obesity among rural adult women in Hebei province.Methods From May through July 2013, a total of 648 women aged 18-59 years(mean age:36.7±11.4 years) were included in a cross-sectional survey in Yutian county of Hebei province.BF% was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis(BIA) and anthropometric indices were measured using standard methods.The BMI criteria adopted by Chinese Adults Overweight and Obesity Prevention and Control Guidelines and WHO BF% were used to define overweight and obesity.Results The mean BMI of study participants was 24.74±3.97 kg/m² and the mean BF% was 28.54±7.04%.According to the criteria of WHO(BF%>35%) and of BMI≥28.0 kg/m², the prevalence of obesity was 18.98 and 20.06%, without significant difference(P>0.05).Compared with the overweight criterion of BF%(>30%), the BMI criterion for overweigh of ≥24 kg/m² showed a good sensitivity(87.38%) and specificity(79.06%), and the diagnostic consistence(Kappa value) was 0.66.Compared with the obesity criterion of BF%(>35%), the BMI criterion for obesity of ≥28 kg/m² had a moderate sensitivity(71.54%) but an excellent specificity(92.00%), and the Kappa value was 0.62.Regression analyses showed that BMI had a good conic correlation with BF%(R²=0.614, P<0.001).Conclusion Compared with the WHO BF% overweight(>30%) and obesity(>35%) criteria, both the overweight(BMI≥24 kg/m²) and obesity(BMI≥28 kg/m²) criteria of BMI present a good accuracy when applied among rural adult women in China.