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BMI screening and surveillance: an international perspective
William Philip Trehearne James1, Tim Lobstein
1Department of Nutrition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom. JeanHJames@aol.com
Pediatrics
|September 2, 2009
Summary
International screening for child malnutrition has shifted focus to older children. School-aged children with BMIs predicting adult obesity face increased health risks, necessitating national surveillance for better public health policies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Previous international child screening efforts concentrated on preschool malnutrition.
- Current data on optimal growth for school-aged children, derived from World Health Organization standards but based in the US, may lack global acceptance.
- A shift towards addressing weight status in school-aged children is emerging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the international perspective on body mass index (BMI) in school-aged children.
- To identify BMI percentiles in children that correlate with increased risk of adult obesity-related comorbidities.
- To highlight the need for national surveillance systems for child weight management policies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized international data and percentile rankings to assess BMI in school-aged children.
- Extrapolated childhood BMI trajectories to predict adult BMI.
- Reviewed existing evidence on the efficacy of individualized interventions for children with elevated BMIs.
Main Results:
- School-aged children whose BMIs, on a percentile basis, predict adult BMIs of 25 kg/m(2) or higher are at increased risk of comorbidities.
- Evidence supporting individually directed help for children with higher BMIs as a national policy is limited.
- National surveillance systems are crucial for informing public health and individual treatment strategies.
Conclusions:
- Childhood BMI screening for school-aged children is critical for identifying future health risks.
- There is a pressing need for robust national surveillance systems to guide child obesity prevention and management.
- Further research is needed to establish the value of individualized interventions within national policies.
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