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Body mass index reference curves for Tunisian children

H Ghouili1, W Ben Khalifa2, N Ouerghi2

  • 1Research Unit, Sportive Performance and Physical Rehabilitation, UR13JS01, High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, 7100 Kef, Tunisia; Faculty of Sciences Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021 Bizerte, Tunisia.

Archives De Pediatrie : Organe Officiel De La Societe Francaise De Pediatrie
|October 27, 2018
PubMed

Insights

This study developed new Body Mass Index (BMI) reference curves for Tunisian children and adolescents. These new BMI curves will aid in assessing nutritional status and reducing obesity risks in young populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Anthropometry

Background:

  • Accurate Body Mass Index (BMI) reference curves are crucial for evaluating child health and nutritional status.
  • Existing BMI references may not accurately represent diverse pediatric populations, necessitating localized data.
  • Increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in children highlights the need for updated growth monitoring tools.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To construct age- and sex-specific Body Mass Index (BMI) reference curves for Tunisian children and adolescents.
  • To compare the newly derived Tunisian BMI curves with international standards (IOTF, WHO) and regional references (Algeria, Turkey).
  • To assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Tunisian children and adolescents using the new reference curves.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the LMS (Lambda, Mu, Sigma) method for constructing smoothed percentile curves.
  • Employed data from a large cohort of 4358 Tunisian children (2182 girls, 2176 boys) aged 0-18 years.
  • Performed comparative analysis against established international and local BMI reference data.

Main Results:

  • Generated smoothed percentile curves for BMI based on age and sex for Tunisian children.
  • Observed variations in median percentiles between the new Tunisian BMI curves and those from IOTF, WHO, Algeria, and Turkey.
  • Identified an increasing trend in overweight prevalence, particularly among adolescent children.

Conclusions:

  • The newly constructed BMI reference curves provide a vital tool for Tunisian pediatricians and health specialists.
  • These localized curves will enhance the accurate assessment of nutritional status in children and adolescents.
  • Implementation of these references can contribute to early identification and management of childhood obesity and related health risks.

Keywords:
Body mass indexChildrenLMS methodPercentile

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