Measurement of Waist to Height Ratio as a Screening Tool for Obesity among Students

Abstract

Introduction: Calculating a person’s waist-to-height ratio is the most accurate and efficient way of

identifying whether or not they are at risk of obesity in clinical practice.

Aims: The study aims to measure the waist to height ratio & its relationship with Waist hip ratio among

students.

Methodology: Cross sectional study design was adopted for the study. 203 students who were studying

B.Sc(N) in SRM College of Nursing were selected for the study as samples . It consisted of two sections.

Section A dealt with demographic Variables such as Age, Year of Study, Gender, Residence, parents’

educational level, Father occupation ,Mother occupation,Family size and Numbers of Siblings. Section B

dealt with anthropometric measurements such as height , waist circumference and waist hip ratio.

Results: The current results showed that , with regard to Waist Height ratio of students , majority of students

83(41%) are healthy, 20% of them are overweight, 10% of them are extremely overweight and 7% of them

are obese. Remaining 17% of them are slim and 5% of them are extremely slim. Regarding the Waist Hip

ratio of students , 61.6 % (125students) were obese and 38.4% (78 students) represent Normal. There was

positive correlation found between Waist Height ratio and Waist Hip ratio of students.

Conclusion: WHtR can be used especially when compared to BMI and WC as a screening tool for obesity

and related cardiometabolic risks, and it can be recommended in clinical practice for obesity screening in

children and adolescents.