Estimation of waist and hip circumferences using body mass index in Delhi school girls (6-11 years).

Central obesity has been associated with the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease in children. A total of 358 Delhi school girls aged 6­11 years were measured for height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference. The study demonstrates a linear correlation between body mass index (BMI) and waist and hip circumference and suggests an indirect method of estimating waist and hip circumferences, whose high values may be used for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Further investigations on different groups are needed to substantiate these results and attribute BMI a predictive value in the clinical setting for the risk and diagnosis of childhood obesity-related metabolic disorders.