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Body mass index charts: useful yet underused
Eliana Miller Perrin1, Kori B Flower, Alice S Ammerman
1Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #7220, 200 Mason Farm Road, 5th Floor, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7220, USA. eliana_perrin@med.unc.edu
The Journal of Pediatrics
|April 8, 2004
Summary
Pediatricians using body mass index (BMI) charts recognized overweight children more readily and expressed greater health concerns compared to those using height and weight charts, despite inconsistent BMI adoption.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Clinical Assessment Tools
- Obesity Management
Background:
- Pediatric obesity is a significant public health concern.
- Accurate assessment of weight status in children is crucial for timely intervention.
- Current practices for assessing pediatric weight may vary among clinicians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the frequency of body mass index (BMI) utilization by pediatricians.
- To compare pediatrician recognition of overweight status and health concerns when using BMI versus traditional height and weight charts.
- To identify potential barriers to BMI adoption in pediatric practice.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental mail survey was administered to members of the North Carolina Pediatrics Society.
- Participants were presented with clinical vignettes of a hypothetical overweight child, receiving either height and weight data or BMI data.
- Pediatricians' ratings of fatness, concern for health sequelae, and frequency of overweight assessment tool use were collected using Likert scales.
Main Results:
- The group presented with BMI data rated the child as significantly fatter and reported higher levels of concern about health consequences compared to the height and weight group.
- Only 11% of surveyed pediatricians reported always using BMI for assessment, while 31% reported never using it.
- A significant difference in fatness perception (P < .0001) and concern levels (P <= .01) was observed between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- Body mass index (BMI) charting enhances pediatrician recognition of pediatric weight problems compared to standard height and weight charting.
- The inconsistent use of BMI among pediatricians suggests a need for targeted interventions to promote its adoption.
- Improving the utilization of BMI as a clinical tool is essential for effective pediatric obesity management.