The Conicity Index Compared to Other Anthropometric Indicators as a Predictor of Excess Weight and Obesity in Adolescents

Abstract

The Conicity Index Compared to Other Anthropometric Indicators as a Predictor of Excess Weight and Obesity in Adolescents Maria Aparecida Zanetti Passos; Eliana Pereira Vellozo; Carla Cristina Enes; Peter Richard Hall; André Luiz Monezi Andrade; Andressa Melina Becker da Silva; Maria Sylvia de Souza Vitalle; Cecília Costa Arcanjo; Francisco Plácido Nogueira Arcanjo. Abstract To compare the performance of the CI with the other anthropometric indicators (waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) in the prediction of excess weight/obesity in adolescents and to establish the respective cutoff points through ROC curves. Demographics: 557 adolescents aged 10-15 years participated in the study. Setting: This study was conducted at four state-run schools in the municipality of São Paulo. Methodology: This was a longitudinal study with a non-probabilistic sample design. Analysis: Anthropometric measurements were taken at 1-year intervals during a period of 3 years. CI, WHtR and WHR values were calculated, and their performance for the prediction of excess weight/obesity was analyzed, calculating the respective cutoff values using ROC curves. Findings: Among the anthropometric indicators, WHtR showed the highest predictive capacity for excess weight/obesity. The CI only proved effective in the 3rd measurement for male participants with a cutoff point of 1.1450 (sensitivity = 0.565, specificity = 0.164). There was a significant correlation for all anthropometric variables with excess weight/obesity, except muscle mass, in the complete sample and according to sex. Implications: The use of WHtR and simple anthropometric measurements, with the cutoff points presented, provided effective predictability in screening for excess weight in this sample. Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/ijhs.v9n1a5