A Study on Waist Circumference as a Screening Tool for Obesity and its Effectiveness in Comparison with BMI among 5-15 Years Urban School going Children at Karimnagar

Abstract

Introduction: World-wide obesity trends are causing serious public health concern and in many countries
threatening the viability of basic health care delivery. Waist circumference as a screening measure of central
obesity in children where obesity is a global phenomenon affecting all socio-economic groups, irrespective of age,
sex or ethnicity.
Aims and Objectives: Waist circumference Reference values are in percentiles for children with 5-15 years of age
in Karimnagar city. To screen over weight and obese children using waist circumference and in comparison with
that of BMI (reference values)
Material and Methods: The study was prospective case control observational study included for 5-15 years of 1000
school going children in Karimnagar city from January 2021 to October 2022 For each group children – Height,
weight, waist circumference and BP were recorded and BMI was calculated according to their (formula) wt/(ht)2.
Results: There was good correlation with waist circumference and BMI in each age group.
1. The reference values for each age group were constructed for WC, BMI, SBP and DBP.
2. The study population was observed over weight (OW) and obesity with their reference values i.e. OW between
85th and 95th percentile and obese over 95th percentile for both WC and BMI. There was good correlation between
BMI and waist circumference for age groups and both the sexes and screening results of OW and obese raising WC
and BMI were almost similar. This indirect WC alone can be used to screen over weight and obesity.
Conclusion: Reference values for both waist circumference and BMI, age wise and gender wise were constructed.
Reference values for BMI and Waist Circumference with cutoff points of 75th, 85th and 95th percentiles were
constructed. The reference values were developed both in percentiles and mean with standard deviation. Using
these reference values, children were screened for overweight, obesity using both BMI and WC. Children at risk
(“action point” >75th percentile of WC) for metabolic syndrome were identified. There is good correlation between
BMI and Waist Circumference. WC measurement alone on regular basis during school health checkup can help to
screen, intervene and monitor Overweight and obese children.