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Updated: Nov 15, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Population-based waist circumference reference values in Japanese children (0-6 years): comparisons with Dutch,
Mikako Inokuchi1,2, Nobutake Matsuo2,3,4, John I Takayama5
1Health Center, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
This study developed waist circumference and waist-to-stature ratio reference curves for Japanese preschoolers using national survey data. These provide crucial ethnicity-specific growth benchmarks for this age group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric anthropometry
- Public health
- Growth monitoring
Background:
- National survey data (1978-1981) on 64 body measurements for Japanese children and adults.
- Low childhood obesity prevalence and good nutritional status observed during the survey period.
- Need for specific reference data for Japanese preschool children's body composition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct age- and sex-specific reference centile curves for waist circumference (WC) and waist circumference to stature ratio (WSR) in Japanese preschool children.
- To establish ethnicity-specific growth charts for monitoring child health.
- To provide a basis for clinical and epidemiological assessments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 1978-1981 Japanese national survey data, including 4937 boys and 4758 girls aged 0-6 years.
- Waist circumference measured at the umbilicus.
- LMS (Lambda-Mu-Sigma) method applied to construct centile curves for WC and WSR.
Main Results:
- Developed reference centile curves for WC and WSR for Japanese preschool children.
- Japanese children exhibited lower WC centile values compared to Dutch, Swedish, and Turkish children.
- Japanese children showed comparable WSR centile values to Dutch and Turkish children.
Conclusions:
- Presents the first age-, sex-, and ethnicity-specific reference values for WC and WSR in Japanese preschool children.
- These reference values are valuable for clinical and epidemiological use.
- Highlights ethnic variations in body composition indicators among preschool-aged children.
Background:
During 1978-1981 the Japanese Standards Association conducted a national survey to collect 64 distinct body measurements for Japanese children and adults. During 1978-1981, the prevalence of childhood obesity was relatively low yet the population was well nourished in Japanese children. The aim of this study is to construct waist circumference and waist circumference to stature ratio reference centile curves for Japanese preschool children.
Methods:
We utilized 1978-1981 national survey data on body sizes. There are 4937 boys and 4758 girls age 0-6 years for waist circumference measurements. Waist circumference was measured at the level of the umbilicus. Using LMS method, centile curves were constructed for waist circumference and waist circumference to stature ratio. These reference values were compared with those of Dutch, Swedish and Turkish children.
Results:
Centile reference curves were made for clinical and epidemiological use. Japanese children had smaller waist circumference centile values as compared to waist circumference measured at the midpoint of the lowest rib cage and the iliac crest of Dutch, Swedish and Turkish children. However, Japanese children had comparable waist circumference to stature ratio centile values to those of Dutch and Turkish children.
Conclusions:
This study presents the first age-, sex-, and ethnicity-specific reference values for waist circumference and waist circumference to stature ratio in Japanese preschool children.
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