Waist‐to‐height Ratio as an Indicator to Determinate Obesity and Central Obesity in Pediatric Population

Abstract

IntroductionIn school‐age children and adolescents, the obesity is a public health alarm that particularly has been increasing. The highest prevalence rates of childhood obesity have been observed in developed countries; still, its prevalence is increasing in developing countries as well. The best evidence to date suggests that measures of central adiposity should be used in order to best identify individuals at increased risk of obesity‐related ill health. In the clinical environment, techniques such as Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) have been used extensively, but the waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) could be a better tool to detect central obesity.ObjectiveThe objective was to evaluate the association of body mass index (BMI) and waist to height ratio in overweight and obese paediatric age group.MethodsIs a cross‐sectional study, schoolchildren in a Mexican population, ages from 9 to 18 years. The anthropometric variables measured were waist circumference, body mass index, waist‐to‐height ratio, Waist circumference at the midpoint between the last rib and the iliac crest. The use of The Center for Disease Control and Prevention growth tables classified overweight as at or above 85th percentile and obesity as at or above 95th percentile of BMI. The relationship between waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) and body mass index (BMI) was analyzed by X2, t‐test and ANOVA.ResultsA cross‐sectional study of 594 children and adolescents from 9 to 18 years of age. In the analysis the population was grouped by aged group of 9 to 11(23%), 12 to 14 (33%) and 15 to 18 years(44%). The body mass index (BMI) for age showed 18% for overweight and 13% for obesity. The waist to height ratio was 24% for higher cardiometabolic risk with a mean of 0.47 and a waist circumference of 73.9cm. A cardiometabolic risk by WtHR was 4% in normal BMI/age, in overweight 8% and in Obesity was 12% (p=0.01).ConclusionThe prevalence of overweigh and obesity was 31%. It is important to recognize the capacity of anthropometric measurements on identifying overweight and obesity diagnosis. A combined diet and physical activity intervention conducted in the community with a school component should be applied preventing obesity or overweight. The waist to height ratio was 24% for cardiometabolic risk. Anthropometric measurements such as weight, height and waist circumference are simple and effective as global indicator for health risks.Support or Funding InformationUPAEP UNIVERSITY Anthropometric measurements in the paediatric group AGE (yrs) Weight (kg) Height (cm) Waist circumference (cm) BMI (kg/m2) WHtR Mean 13.6 55.6 158.6 73.9 21.9 0.47 SD 2.34 14.4 11.6 10.3 4.1 0.06 Min 9.0 23.0 127.0 50.0 13.6 0.34 Max 18.0 115.0 195.0 125.0 40.5 0.74 Range 9.0 92.0 68.0 75.0 26.9 0.4 *Standard DeviationProportion categorized by WHtR Risk and BMITable 2