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Updated: Oct 23, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Evaluation of Children and Adolescents with Obesity
Vaman Khadilkar1, Nikhil Shah2,3
1Growth and Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, Jehangir Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, 411 001, India. vamankhadilkar@gmail.com.
Insights
Childhood obesity in India requires early identification through anthropometric assessment to prevent serious health issues. Accurate growth charts and monitoring are crucial for managing risks and long-term complications in children and adolescents.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Childhood overweight and obesity represent a growing epidemic in Indian children and adolescents.
- Early identification and evaluation are essential to mitigate long-term health complications.
- Understanding the scope of the problem is vital for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the necessary evaluations for identifying and assessing obesity-related risks in Indian children.
- To emphasize the importance of anthropometric measurements and growth charts in diagnosis.
- To guide healthcare professionals in managing childhood obesity and its associated comorbidities.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 growth charts for children under 5 years (weight-for-length/height).
- Employing Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) 2015 growth charts for children aged 5-18 years (body mass index).
- Assessing waist circumference as a predictor of comorbidities and metabolic syndrome.
Main Results:
- Specific growth charts and parameters are recommended for defining overweight and obesity based on age groups.
- Waist circumference is a key indicator for pediatric obesity-related comorbidities.
- Identifying children with specific physical or developmental characteristics may necessitate further genetic evaluation.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive anthropometric assessment using age-appropriate growth charts is fundamental for childhood obesity evaluation in India.
- Screening for and managing comorbidities are critical for preventing long-term cardiometabolic risks.
- Detailed history of diet, physical activity, and screen time aids in a holistic management approach.
Abstract:
Childhood overweight and obesity in Indian children and adolescents is a relatively new but widespread epidemic. Hence, it is necessary to evaluate and identify these children to prevent long-term complications. The most important evaluation to identify and assess obesity-related risks in these children involves anthropometric assessment and using appropriate growth charts. Overweight and obesity are defined using weight-for-length or -height parameters (World Health Organization 2006 charts) in Indian children less than 5 y and body mass index (Indian Academy of Pediatric 2015 charts) in Indian children aged 5-18 y. Waist circumference is another important predictor of pediatric obesity-related comorbidities and is also a component to define metabolic syndrome. Tall and obese children usually have primary obesity, and short and obese children require further evaluation for endocrine disease or syndromic causes. The presence of developmental delay, hearing or vision impairment, genital and digit abnormalities or dysmorphism should warrant a genetic evaluation. It is important to document social and dietary history as well as time spent in physical activity and usage of electronic screen. Finally, comorbidities associated with childhood obesity are common, which can result in long-term complications; hence, these comorbidities should be screened and managed to prevent long-term cardiometabolic risks.
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