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Waist percentiles: a simple test for atherogenic disease?
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Siena, Italy.
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|November 1, 1996
Summary
This study establishes standard waist circumference measurements for children aged 6-14. These new pediatric standards help identify obesity and cardiovascular disease risk, guiding further metabolic evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric endocrinology
- Public health
- Anthropometry
Background:
- Waist circumference is a key indicator for estimating obesity and cardiovascular disease risk in adults.
- Emerging evidence suggests similar utility in pediatric populations.
- Standardized methods for quantifying waist circumference in children are currently lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative standards for waist circumference in children.
- To provide a quantifiable measure for assessing pediatric obesity and associated health risks.
Main Methods:
- Calculated age- and sex-specific percentiles for waist circumference.
- Utilized data from 2858 children (aged 6-14 years) from a population survey in Pescara, Italy.
- Generated smoothed percentile curves for waist circumference.
Main Results:
- Presented detailed percentile values for waist circumference stratified by age and sex.
- Provided smoothed percentile curves illustrating normative waist circumference ranges.
- Established a practical model for standard waist measurements in children.
Conclusions:
- The developed standards offer a practical model for quantifying waist circumference in children.
- These standards can aid in identifying children at risk (< or = or > 2 SD from the mean) for obesity and cardiovascular disease.
- Further laboratory examination is recommended for metabolic status assessment in identified children.