Body mass index adjustments to increase the validity of body fatness assessment in UK Black African and South Asian children.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

Body mass index (BMI) (weight per height²) is the most widely used marker of childhood obesity and total body fatness (BF). However, its validity is limited, especially in children of South Asian and Black African origins. We aimed to quantify BMI adjustments needed for UK children of Black African and South Asian origins so that adjusted BMI related to BF in the same way as for White European children.

Methods

We used data from four recent UK studies that made deuterium dilution BF measurements in UK children of White European, South Asian and Black African origins. A height-standardized fat mass index (FMI) was derived to represent BF. Linear regression models were then fitted, separately for boys and girls, to quantify ethnic differences i

SUBMITTER: Hudda MT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5500188 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature