An improved algorithm to harmonize child overweight and obesity prevalence rates.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prevalence rates of child overweight and obesity for a group of children vary depending on the BMI reference and cut-off used. Previously we developed an algorithm to convert prevalence rates based on one reference to those based on another.

Objective

To improve the algorithm by combining information on overweight and obesity prevalence.

Methods

The original algorithm assumed that prevalence according to two different cut-offs A and B differed by a constant amount dz on the z-score scale. However the results showed that the z-score difference tended to be greater in the upper tail of the distribution and was better represented by b × dz , where b was a constant that varied by group. The improved algorithm uses paired prevalence rates of overweight and ob

SUBMITTER: Cole TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10078258 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature