Neck circumference cut-off points to determine obesity in Chilean preschool children

Authors

  • María José Arias-Téllez Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile Department of Physical and Sports Education, Promoting Fitness and Health through Physical Activity Research Group, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), Faculty of Sports Science, University of Granada, Spain http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6738-6196
  • Barbara Leyton Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
  • Clarice M. de Lucena Martins Department of Physical Education, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, Brazil Faculty of Sports and Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Porto, Portugal
  • Juliana Kain Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
  • Gabriela Noemí Carrasco Navarro Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile Department of Physical and Sports Education, Promoting Fitness and Health through Physical Activity Research Group, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), Faculty of Sports Science, University of Granada, Spain Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile Department of Physical Education, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, Brazil Faculty of Sports and Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Porto, Portugal Santa Maria Clinic, Providencia, Santiago, Chile
  • Sandra Mahecha-Matsudo Exercise and Health (CEAFES), Center of Study on Physical Activity, Universidad Mayor, Chile
  • Johana Patricia Soto-Sánchez Exercise and Health (CEAFES), Center of Study on Physical Activity, Universidad Mayor, Chile

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-2156.IntJSciRep20221588

Keywords:

Neck circumference, Obesity, Preschooler

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of obesity in Chilean preschoolers is high. Simple methods for the diagnosis in Chilean preschoolers are of public health interest. We determined neck circumference cut-off points as a proxy measure of obesity according to age and sex.

Methods: 597 participants (267 girls) were included. NC, weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. Body mass index scores (BMI z scores) was calculated. Descriptive variables for girls and boys were compared with t-test. Pearson correlations were calculated to examine the relationship of NC with classical anthropometric measures. NC cut-off values (ROC analysis) and Kappa coefficient, were calculated.

Results: NC was positively associated with BMI z score and WC among girls and boys, across age groups (all p<0.001). Obese cut-off points of NC for elevated BMI z score were between 25.3~25.9 cm in girls and 26.2 in boys, while those for WC were, 25.7 and 26.3 for 5-year-old girls and boys, respectively. The KC between BMI z score or WC with NC had an agreement strength between poor to moderate (all p<0.001).

Conclusions: NC demonstrated to be a reliable indicator for the diagnosis of obesity for Chilean preschoolers. Future studies are needed to validate this finding.

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Published

2022-06-23

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Original Research Articles