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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

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[Prevalence of overweight and obesity in northwest Mexico by three references of body mass index: differences in

Erik Ramírez1, María Isabel Grijalva-Haro, José Antonio Ponce

  • 1División de Nutrición, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. Hermosillo, Sonora, México.

Archivos Latinoamericanos De Nutricion
|January 26, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Comparing child obesity standards in Sonora, Mexico, revealed significant differences. The World Health Organization (WHO) reference method may overestimate prevalence compared to CDC/NCHS and IOTF criteria.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Nutrition

Background:

  • Childhood overweight and obesity are significant global health concerns.
  • Accurate prevalence estimation is crucial for effective public health interventions.
  • Different growth reference standards exist, potentially leading to varied prevalence rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children aged 6-10 years in Sonora, Mexico.
  • To evaluate three different growth reference standards: CDC/NCHS, IOTF, and WHO (used in Mexico's ENN 1999).

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 604 children (6-10 years) from 17 municipalities in Sonora, Mexico.
  • Weight and height measurements were collected to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI)/age.
  • Prevalence was determined using CDC/NCHS, IOTF, and WHO (ENN 1999) criteria.

Main Results:

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) reference showed the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity (39%), significantly higher than CDC/NCHS (20%) and IOTF (17%).
  • CDC/NCHS and IOTF criteria demonstrated good agreement (Kappa >80), while agreement with WHO criteria was poor (Kappa <40).
  • No significant differences in prevalence were observed based on sex or urban-rural location.

Conclusions:

  • The three reference systems (CDC/NCHS, IOTF, WHO) yield different prevalence estimates for childhood overweight and obesity.
  • The WHO method may overestimate obesity prevalence in this pediatric population.
  • Careful consideration of these reference standards is recommended for future comparative studies on child obesity.

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