Magalhães EIDS, Sant'Ana LFDR, Priore SE, Franceschini SDCC. [Waist circumference, waist/height ratio, and neck circumference as parameters of central obesity assessment in children].
REVISTA PAULISTA DE PEDIATRIA 2014;
32:273-81. [PMID:
25479861 PMCID:
PMC4227352 DOI:
10.1590/0103-0582201432320]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Objective:
To analyze studies that assessed the anthropometric parameters waist circumference
(WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHR) and neck circumference (NC) as indicators of
central obesity in children.
Data sources:
We searched PubMed and SciELO databases using the combined descriptors: "Waist
circumference", "Waist-to-height ratio", "Neck circumference", "Children" and
"Abdominal fat" in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Inclusion criteria were
original articles with information about the WC, WHR and NC in the assessment of
central obesity in children. We excluded review articles, short communications,
letters and editorials.
Data synthesis:
1,525 abstracts were obtained in the search, and 68 articles were selected for
analysis. Of these, 49 articles were included in the review. The WC was the
parameter more used in studies, followed by the WHR. Regarding NC, there are few
studies in children. The predictive ability of WC and WHR to indicate central
adiposity in children was controversial. The cutoff points suggested for the
parameters varied among studies, and some differences may be related to ethnicity
and lack of standardization of anatomical site used for measurement.
Conclusions:
More studies are needed to evaluate these parameters for determination of central
obesity children. Scientific literature about NC is especially scarce, mainly in
the pediatric population. There is a need to standardize site measures and
establish comparable cutoff points between different populations.
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