Different criteria for body mass index classification for excess weight screening in children aged six to ten years.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the agreement between body mass index (BMI) parameters applied to children aged six to ten years in the city of Montes Claros (MG), Brazil with national and international criteria, also calculating their sensitivity and specificity regarding excess weight screening. METHODS: A sample comprising 4151 children aged six to ten years was assessed, with height and body mass determined for BMI calculation. The obtained values were classified according to cutoff points established by the World Health Organization (WHO), International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Conde & Monteiro, and a recent local proposal. The agreement index between the mentioned criteria was calculated and thereafter the sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: The local proposal was proven to be highly consistent in most combinations, especially concerning the excess weight criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO) (k=0.895). Regarding excess weight, the local proposal presented sensitivity and specificity values of 0.8680 and 0.9956, respectively, indicating high BMI discrimination power. CONCLUSIONS: The locally applied BMI parameters for children aged six to ten years represent a valid, highly viable and practical proposal for excess weight screening in this population group, improving professional decision-making in their follow-up.

Body morphology and bone age in girls with obesity and without obesity aged 8 to 15 years: a cross-sectional study / Morfologia corporal e idade óssea em meninas com obesidade e sem obesidade de 8 a 15 anos: um estudo transversal

Introduction: childhood obesity is one of the main public health problems worldwide, leading to health status repercussions and growth and maturation process implications in both children and adolescents. Objective: the aim of this study was to verify body morphology and bone age variations in girls with obesity and without obesity. Methodology: this comprises a cross-sectional study conducted with 140 girls aged 8 to 15 years old, 70 with obesity and 70 without obesity. Hip and waist circumferences, body mass, height and and Body Mass Index (BMI) were determined. For maturation status determinations, bone ages were determined by a left wrist and hand radiography employing the Fels method. Results: the findigs indicate significant correlations between nutritional and maturation statuses (r=0.80; p˂0.01). Girls with obesity presented higher weight and BMI values, larger waist and hip circumferences and more advanced bone age compared to girls without obesity (p˂0.01). The same significant differences (p˂0.01) were noted in the contrasting maturational group analysis, where girls presenting advanced maturation always exhibited the highest parameter values. Conclusion: nutritional status is associated to maturation status, and girls with obesity exhibit more advanced bone age than girls without obesity.

Introdução: a obesidade infantil é um dos principais problemas de saúde pública mundial, com repercussões no estado de saúde e implicações no processo de crescimento e maturação de crianças e adolescentes. Objetivo: verificar a variação da morfologia corporal e da idade óssea em meninas com e sem obesidade. Metodologia: estudo transversal conduzido com 140 meninas de 8 a 15 anos de idade, sendo 70 meninas com obesidade e 70 sem obesidade. Foram mensuradas as circunferências do quadril e da cintura, massa corporal, altura e o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC). Para o status maturacional foi determinada a idade óssea por meio de radiografia de punho e mão esquerdos pelo Método Fels. Resultados: os resultados apontaram a existência de correlação entre o status nutricional e o status maturacional (r=0,80; p˂0,01). As meninas com obesidade apresentaram maior peso, IMC mais elevado, circunferências maiores e idade óssea mais avançada quando comparadas às meninas sem obesidade (p˂0,01). Na análise dos grupos maturacionais contrastantes as mesmas diferenças se apresentaram com valores significativos (p˂0,01), sendo as meninas avançadas maturacionalmente sempre com valores superiores. Conclusão: o status nutricional apresentou correlação com o status maturacional, e as meninas com obesidade apresentam idade óssea mais avançada que aquelas sem obesidade

Different criteria for body mass index classification for excess weight screening in children aged six to ten years / Diferentes critérios de classificação do índice de massa corporal para o rastreio do excesso de peso em crianças de seis a dez anos

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the agreement between body mass index (BMI) parameters applied to children aged six to ten years in the city of Montes Claros (MG), Brazil with national and international criteria, also calculating their sensitivity and specificity regarding excess weight screening. Methods: A sample comprising 4151 children aged six to ten years was assessed, with height and body mass determined for BMI calculation. The obtained values were classified according to cutoff points established by the World Health Organization (WHO), International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Conde & Monteiro, and a recent local proposal. The agreement index between the mentioned criteria was calculated and thereafter the sensitivity and specificity. Results: The local proposal was proven to be highly consistent in most combinations, especially concerning the excess weight criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO) (k=0.895). Regarding excess weight, the local proposal presented sensitivity and specificity values of 0.8680 and 0.9956, respectively, indicating high BMI discrimination power. Conclusions: The locally applied BMI parameters for children aged six to ten years represent a valid, highly viable and practical proposal for excess weight screening in this population group, improving professional decision-making in their follow-up.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a concordância dos parâmetros de índice de massa corporal (IMC) para crianças com idade de seis a dez anos da cidade de Montes Claros/MG com os demais critérios de abrangência nacional e internacional, bem como sua sensibilidade e especificidade no rastreio do excesso de peso. Métodos: Foi utilizada uma amostra de 4.151 crianças de seis a dez anos, sendo mensuradas estatura e massa corporal para a determinação do IMC. Os valores obtidos foram classificados de acordo com os pontos de corte da World Health Organization (WHO), International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Conde & Monteiro e uma recente proposta local. Calculou-se o índice de concordância entre os critérios mencionados e, em seguida, a sensibilidade e a especificidade. Resultados: A proposta local mostrou-se altamente concordante na maioria das combinações, principalmente para o excesso de peso com a WHO (k=0,895). Com relação ao excesso de peso, a proposta local apresentou valores de 0,8680 e 0,9956 para a sensibilidade e especificidade respectivamente, mostrando alto poder de discriminação do IMC. Conclusões: Conclui-se que os parâmetros locais de IMC para crianças de seis a dez anos representam uma proposta válida, altamente viável e utilizável para o rastreio do excesso de peso desse grupo populacional, melhorando a tomada de decisão profissional no acompanhamento de tais indivíduos.

NEW REFERENCE PARAMETERS FOR BODY MASS INDEX IN CHILDREN AGED SIX TO TEN YEARS.

OBJECTIVE: To determine new body mass index (BMI) reference values to classify the nutritional status of children aged six to ten years old from the city of Montes Claros (state of Minas Gerais), Southeast Brazil. METHODS: The sample consisted of 3,863 individuals from both genders. Body mass and height were measured to determine the BMI. We adopted the Lambda, Mu, and Sigma (LMS) method to obtain the cut-off points. After that, each stratum curve was smoothed using quartic polynomials by gender. Average interpolation was used to determine the biannual distribution values. We calculated the 3rd, 85th, and 95th centiles to classify underweight, overweight, and obesity, respectively, according to gender and age. RESULTS: After tabulating the LMS parameters at biannual intervals by gender, we plotted a graphic with seven centiles of BMI distribution and calculated the new BMI parameters for children aged 6-10 years old from the city of Montes Claros. The cut-off values for underweight, overweight, and obesity classification were, respectively, 17.5, 25 and 30 kg/m2. CONCLUSIONS: For the studied children, the use of traditional BMI references may result in the overestimation of underweight and underestimation of overweight and obesity. Studies should be carried out with periodic updates, respecting the characteristics of each location in order to use BMI reference values to classify the nutritional status of children and adolescents.

New reference parameters for body mass index in children aged six to ten years / Novos parâmetros de referência do índice de massa corpórea para crianças de seis a dez anos

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine new body mass index (BMI) reference values to classify the nutritional status of children aged six to ten years old from the city of Montes Claros (state of Minas Gerais), Southeast Brazil. Methods: The sample consisted of 3,863 individuals from both genders. Body mass and height were measured to determine the BMI. We adopted the Lambda, Mu, and Sigma (LMS) method to obtain the cut-off points. After that, each stratum curve was smoothed using quartic polynomials by gender. Average interpolation was used to determine the biannual distribution values. We calculated the 3rd, 85th, and 95th centiles to classify underweight, overweight, and obesity, respectively, according to gender and age. Results: After tabulating the LMS parameters at biannual intervals by gender, we plotted a graphic with seven centiles of BMI distribution and calculated the new BMI parameters for children aged 6-10 years old from the city of Montes Claros. The cut-off values for underweight, overweight, and obesity classification were, respectively, 17.5, 25 and 30 kg/m2. Conclusions: For the studied children, the use of traditional BMI references may result in the overestimation of underweight and underestimation of overweight and obesity. Studies should be carried out with periodic updates, respecting the characteristics of each location in order to use BMI reference values to classify the nutritional status of children and adolescents.

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar novos valores de referência do índice de massa corporal (IMC) para a classificação do estado nutricional de crianças de seis a 10 anos da cidade de Montes Claros (MG) Brasil. Métodos: Foi utilizada uma amostra de 3.863 sujeitos de ambos os sexos, sendo mensurados massa corporal e estatura para a determinação do IMC. Para a obtenção dos pontos de corte utilizou-se o método Lambda, Sigma e Mu (LMS). Em seguida, as curvas de cada estrato foram suavizadas por polinômios de 4º grau por sexo, e, por interpolação das médias aritméticas, foram obtidos os valores semestrais da distribuição. Foram calculados os percentis 3%, 85% e 95% para a classificação de baixo peso, sobrepeso e obesidade, respectivamente, de acordo com sexo e idade. Resultados: Após a tabulação em intervalos semestrais dos valores dos parâmetros LMS por sexo, foi possível construir o gráfico com sete centis da distribuição do IMC, sendo apresentados os novos parâmetros do IMC para crianças de 6 a 10 anos de Montes Claros, equivalentes aos valores 17,5, 25 e 30 kg/m2 para baixo peso, sobrepeso e obesidade respectivamente. Conclusões: Em relação à população de Montes Claros, a utilização das tradicionais referências para o IMC pode resultar em uma superestimativa do baixo peso e subestimativa do sobrepeso e obesidade. O que se sugere é que, para o uso de valores de referência do IMC para classificar o estado nutricional de crianças e adolescentes, sejam realizados estudos com atualizações periódicas, respeitando as características de cada localidade.