TY - JOUR
T1 - Waist-based anthropometric measures and central adiposity-related comorbidities in children
AU - Gomwe, Howard
AU - Phiri, Lesego
AU - Marange, Chioneso S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024. The Authors.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Background: Waist-related measures are commonly used to classify central adiposity and related comorbidities. This classification may be essential among children, as it may identify the risk of future non-communicable diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa, among 459 primary school learners aged 9–14 years. Height, weight and waist circumference (WC) were measured using standardised techniques recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). The anthropometric measurements, including body mass index (BMI), WC, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were computed and evaluated. Results: Most participants were girls (57.70%) with an average age of 11.20 ± 1.60 years. The average weight was 38.81 kg ± 10.49 kg with an average height of 144.16 (standard deviation [s.d.] = 10.37) cm. The sample had a BMI of 18.41 kg/m2 (s.d. = 3.19). The results showed, on average, WC of 62.10 cm ± 8.12 cm, WHR of 0.82 ± 0.15 and WHtR of 0.44 ± 0.05. Girls reported significantly higher BMI, WC and WHtR. Based on WHtR, the results showed the acceptable ability to classify children according to abdominal obesity, thus identifying their risk for comorbidities. Conclusion: Overall body fat indicated by BMI and central obesity shown by waist-related anthropometric measures can play a significant role in classifying children in terms of their risk of comorbidities. Contribution: To prevent the risks of metabolic diseases in childhood, it is necessary to detect abdominal obesity early using WC-based anthropometric measurements, especially WHtR, to identify those at risk.
AB - Background: Waist-related measures are commonly used to classify central adiposity and related comorbidities. This classification may be essential among children, as it may identify the risk of future non-communicable diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa, among 459 primary school learners aged 9–14 years. Height, weight and waist circumference (WC) were measured using standardised techniques recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). The anthropometric measurements, including body mass index (BMI), WC, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were computed and evaluated. Results: Most participants were girls (57.70%) with an average age of 11.20 ± 1.60 years. The average weight was 38.81 kg ± 10.49 kg with an average height of 144.16 (standard deviation [s.d.] = 10.37) cm. The sample had a BMI of 18.41 kg/m2 (s.d. = 3.19). The results showed, on average, WC of 62.10 cm ± 8.12 cm, WHR of 0.82 ± 0.15 and WHtR of 0.44 ± 0.05. Girls reported significantly higher BMI, WC and WHtR. Based on WHtR, the results showed the acceptable ability to classify children according to abdominal obesity, thus identifying their risk for comorbidities. Conclusion: Overall body fat indicated by BMI and central obesity shown by waist-related anthropometric measures can play a significant role in classifying children in terms of their risk of comorbidities. Contribution: To prevent the risks of metabolic diseases in childhood, it is necessary to detect abdominal obesity early using WC-based anthropometric measurements, especially WHtR, to identify those at risk.
KW - central adiposity
KW - rural children
KW - waist circumference
KW - waist-hip ratio
KW - waist-to-height ratio
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85202929616&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4102/safp.v66i1.5932
DO - 10.4102/safp.v66i1.5932
M3 - Article
C2 - 39221725
AN - SCOPUS:85202929616
SN - 2078-6190
VL - 66
JO - South African Family Practice
JF - South African Family Practice
IS - 1
M1 - a5932
ER -
