Abstract
Background
Family-based intervention programmes are effective for overweight children. Most programmes follow the weight/height2 (BMI). We have previously shown, in a group of Welsh schoolchildren, that BMI does not fully adjust for the effect of height during puberty and that waist to-height ratio (WaHtR) is more reliable (Lewitt et al., Ann Hum Biol 39:440, 2012).
Aim
To determine the relationship between height and weight, and height and waist circumference in overweight children participating in a family-based intervention programme (MEND) in Scotland.
Subjects
Girls (n=32) and boys (n=30) aged 7-13 years and > 91st centile for BMI, adjusted for age and sex. MEND tracks waist as well as BMI. Log-log regression analysis was used to estimate the power with which to raise height to control for the effect on weight and waist circumference.
ResultsBMI correlated with height in girls (r=0.513, p=0.003) and boys (r=0.402, p=0.027). Log-log regression analysis indicated that height needed to be raised to the power 2.9 and 2.7, respectively,to control for its effect on weight. Waist also correlated with height in girls (r=0.615, p<0.001) and boys (r=0.557, p=0.001). There was no relationship between WaHtR and height in girls (r=-0.087,p=0.635) or boys (r=-0.005, p=0.977). During the 10 week MEND intervention WaHtR decreased by 3.6% in girls and 3.5% in boys while BMI changed 2.9 and 2.5%, respectively (both p<0.001).
ConclusionWaHtR is a more reliable than BMI in overweight children aged 7-13 years, and should be used to track responses to lifestyle interventions in this age group.
Family-based intervention programmes are effective for overweight children. Most programmes follow the weight/height2 (BMI). We have previously shown, in a group of Welsh schoolchildren, that BMI does not fully adjust for the effect of height during puberty and that waist to-height ratio (WaHtR) is more reliable (Lewitt et al., Ann Hum Biol 39:440, 2012).
Aim
To determine the relationship between height and weight, and height and waist circumference in overweight children participating in a family-based intervention programme (MEND) in Scotland.
Subjects
Girls (n=32) and boys (n=30) aged 7-13 years and > 91st centile for BMI, adjusted for age and sex. MEND tracks waist as well as BMI. Log-log regression analysis was used to estimate the power with which to raise height to control for the effect on weight and waist circumference.
ResultsBMI correlated with height in girls (r=0.513, p=0.003) and boys (r=0.402, p=0.027). Log-log regression analysis indicated that height needed to be raised to the power 2.9 and 2.7, respectively,to control for its effect on weight. Waist also correlated with height in girls (r=0.615, p<0.001) and boys (r=0.557, p=0.001). There was no relationship between WaHtR and height in girls (r=-0.087,p=0.635) or boys (r=-0.005, p=0.977). During the 10 week MEND intervention WaHtR decreased by 3.6% in girls and 3.5% in boys while BMI changed 2.9 and 2.5%, respectively (both p<0.001).
ConclusionWaHtR is a more reliable than BMI in overweight children aged 7-13 years, and should be used to track responses to lifestyle interventions in this age group.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 8-8 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 10 Oct 2013 |
| Event | Society for the Study of Human Biology Proffered Papers Meeting - Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom Duration: 10 Oct 2013 → … |
Conference
| Conference | Society for the Study of Human Biology Proffered Papers Meeting |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | Oxford |
| Period | 10/10/13 → … |