Waist circumference-to-height ratio is a non-invasive and cheap device for measuring fats mass chubby and weight problems (adiposopathy) in pediatric follow. The QR code hyperlinks to a waist-to-height ratio calculator developed on the idea of this research. Credit score: Andrew Agbaje.
Physique mass index (BMI) was nearly thrice extra prone to classify kids as chubby as a waist circumference-to-height ratio, in line with a brand new research.
Printed in Weight problems and Endocrinology, the research was based mostly on a collaboration between the College of Japanese Finland and the Universities of Bristol and Exeter within the UK.
BMI and weight-to-height indices are universally employed as markers of childhood weight problems. Nevertheless, BMI doesn’t distinguish muscle mass from fats mass, and should misclassify kids as chubby.
With regard to grownup weight problems, The Lancet Fee on Weight problems and the European Affiliation for the Examine of Weight problems (EASO) have lately really helpful that weight problems in adults shouldn’t be identified with BMI alone however confirmed with one other measure, corresponding to waist-to-height ratio. The UK Nationwide Institute for Well being Care and Excellence has additionally really helpful waist-to-height ratio as a device to foretell well being dangers related to central adiposity in kids.
The current research is the biggest follow-up pediatric research evaluating BMI and waist-to-height ratio on this planet. The research included 7,600 kids drawn from the College of Bristol’s Youngsters of the 90s cohort who have been adopted up from age 9 to 24.
Of the 1,431 kids labeled as BMI-overweight at age 9 years, 25% had waist-to-height ratio of excessive fats, 11% had waist-to-height ratio of extra fats, and 64% had waist-to-height ratio of regular fats, in line with the cutpoints used within the research. Nevertheless, of the 517 kids labeled as having waist-to-height ratio of excessive fats, 70% have been BMI-overweight, 24% had BMI-obesity, and solely 6% had regular BMI.
Twin-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is taken into account the gold-standard for correct physique fats measuring; nevertheless, this costly gadget just isn’t universally accessible in main well being care. It was beforehand reported from the identical information that waist-to-height ratio can assess physique fats to a most of 85% accuracy in comparison with DEXA outcomes. The waist-to-height ratio cutpoints for prime, extra and regular physique fats used on this research have been developed from earlier ends in the identical kids and adolescents.
Within the current research, these waist-to-height ratio cutpoints have been additionally externally validated for sort 2 diabetes prediction in 3,329 US adults. Waist-to-height ratio of excessive fats was related to greater odds of prediabetes, whereas waist-to-height ratio of extra fats predicted greater odds of sort 2 diabetes.
“Waist-to-height ratio is an affordable and universally accessible, accurate and precise tool for detecting high and excess fat in children and adolescents,” says Andrew Agbaje, who’s a doctor and affiliate professor (docent) of Scientific Epidemiology and Youngster Well being on the College of Japanese Finland. His earlier analysis has additionally proven that waist-to-height ratio predicts each complete physique adiposity and central adiposity.
“Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents should not be diagnosed with BMI alone, but could be confirmed with waist-to-height ratio where a DEXA scan is lacking,” Agbaje concludes.
Extra data:
Andrew O Agbaje, Physique mass index triples chubby prevalence in 7600 kids in contrast with waist-to-height ratio: the ALSPAC research, Weight problems and Endocrinology (2025). DOI: 10.1093/obendo/wjaf002
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College of Japanese Finland
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BMI overestimates childhood weight problems in comparison with waist-to-height ratio, research suggests (2025, March 12)
retrieved 12 March 2025
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