Utility of the waist-to-height ratio as an instrument to measure parental perception of body weight in children and its use in a population-based survey of children

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15091074
AutoresSmita Nambiar (0000-0002-0626-1119, Children's Medical Research Institute, autor de correspondencia), Helen Truby (0000-0002-1992-1649, Monash University), Ian Hughes (0000-0002-8126-1303, The University of Queensland), Peter S W Davies (0000-0002-7848-8515, The University of Queensland), Peter SW Davies
Año2013
Volumen16
Número2
Páginas274-280
Fecha de publicación2013-02-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980012002972
PMID22874074
OpenAlexW2146406514
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas38

Objective To investigate which anthropometric measure of overweight status, BMI or waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), is most closely associated with parents’ perception of their child's overweight status. Design The sensitivity and specificity of parental perception against child-specific BMI and WHtR definitions of overweight were tested. Setting Primary schools in Queensland, Australia. Subjects Boys and girls aged 9·00–11·99 years ( n 1431). Results Of the 138 boys and 202 girls who were classified as overweight according to BMI, only 27·5 % (boys) and 22·7 % (girls) were also perceived as overweight by their parents. Using WHtR, 206 boys and 333 girls were classified as overweight, of whom only 21·9 % and 13·8 %, respectively, were perceived as overweight. Perception of overweight was underestimated in approximately 15 % of boys and 21 % of girls when compared with BMI. Underestimation was higher when compared with WHtR: 25 % (boys) and 39 % (girls). Overweight prevalence was significantly lower according to perception than according to BMI or WHtR. Mother's education level was significantly associated with accurate perception of overweight status ( P Conclusions The sensitivity of parental perception of child overweight was higher when BMI was used. However, emphasis needs to be placed on using WHtR as an actual measure of overweight because high central adiposity is associated with increased risk of CVD. The combined use of WHtR, body-shape images rather than word responses regarding perception and public health messages that educate parents and children about body shape and associated health risks may be the best combination in improving parents’ perception of their child's overweight status

Anthropometry · Body mass index · Environmental health · Obesity · Overweight · Perception · Population · Waist · Waist-to-height ratio · Demography · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Endocrinology · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics