RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MID UPPER ARM CIRCUMFERENCE (MUAC) AND BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) OF CHILDREN AGED 7-12 YEARS IN GANUKUL VILLAGE, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT, BENGALURU RURAL.

Abstract

Background: In India and worldwide overweight or obesity in paediatric age group has become one of the most important health problems. Overweight / obesity is a proved risk factor for several signicant complications and tracks in adulthood. Body mass index (BMI) is used as a clinical assessment of overweight and obesity in children and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is used as an assessment for nutritional status. I would like to compare Mid upper arm circumference and Body mass index. To Objective: compare the mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) with that of body mass index (BMI) of the study population 7-12 years in Ganukul village, Ramanagara district, Bengaluru rural. Materials And Methods: This is a study done in children aged 7-12 years in Ganukul village, Ramanagara district, Bengaluru rural. Following ethical clearance from the institutional ethical committee, the study was conducted in schools belonging to the study area. The children were visited in the school and after consent being obtained from the parents by visiting their house. Base line data including age, gender, demographic data, socioeconomic status was noted. Following this standard anthropometric measurement including weight in Kilogram, Height in centimeters, mid upper arm circumference in centimeter, body mass index was measured using standard measurement protocols. Weight was measured without shoes with the help of digital machine to the nearest 500 grams. Height was measured with stadiometer to the nearest completed centimeter or child standing against the wall with the bare foot should look straight, standing in relaxed manner with arms hanging by the side, they should stand with both feet and knees closes together, head kept in Frankfurt plane (the line joining the lower margin of the orbit and upper margin of the external auditory canal should be parallel to ground). Age was calculated from date of birth. MUAC was measured with non-stretchable measuring tape to nearest millimeter. BMI was measured by weight in KG / height in m2 Results: Compared to MUAC and BMI, BMI was the best predictor for overweight and obesity compared to MUAC as evidenced by statistically signicant adjusted odd's ratio. On the other hand MUAC was a better predictor of underweight compared to BMI but the adjusted odd's ratio was not statistically signicant. Conclusion: BMI is a better predicator for over weight , MUAC is a better predictor for underweight. K