[Methods for the assessment of adolescent obesity in epidemiological studies]

The incidence of obesity is increasing dramatically not only among adults, but also in the child population.

Comparison of different anthropological methods.

The authors evaluated the data of 654 boys and 584 girls (age 15-19 years). Body height and waist circumference were measured, body composition was determined using InBody3.0 bioimpedance instrument. Body mass index and body fat percentage were calculated by the instrument.

On the basis of age and gender specific diagnostic criteria for body mass index, incidence of leanness, overweight and obesity in the boys' group were 6.7, 15.9 and 4.1%, respectively. In the girls' group the respective figures were 7.2, 7.9 and 1.9%. On the basis of body fat percentage, 5.1% of boys and 16.2% of girls were obese, whereas on the basis of data for waist circumference, visceral obesity occurred in 10.5% of boys and 7.9% of girls. In the overweight groups 10.5% of boys and 77.0% of girls were obese on the basis of body fat percentage, whereas taking into consideration the values of waist circumference, 38% of boys and 55% of girls could be regarded as obese.

The determination of body composition is of utmost importance in obesity screening and in the follow-up slimming diets. In addition to this, simple and inexpensive waist circumference measurements should be performed in each instance.