Misclassification of child body mass index from cut-points defined by rounded percentiles instead of Z-scores.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate the misclassification resulting from the use of body mass index (BMI) cut-points defined by rounded percentiles instead of Z-scores in early childhood. Using data from the TARGet Kids primary care network we conducted a cross-sectional study among 5836 children < 6 years of age. The World Health Organization growth standards were used to calculate BMI-for-age Z-scores. BMI Z-score cut-points of < - 2.0, > 1.0, > 2.0, > 3.0 are recommended to define wasted, at risk of overweight, overweight and obese. However, rounded percentiles of the 3rd, 85th, 97th, and 99.9th are commonly used. Misclassification was calculated comparing the frequency distributions for BMI categories defined by rounded percentiles and Z-score cut-points.

Results

Using rounded percent

SUBMITTER: Anderson LN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5706297 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature