The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on October 17, 2005
The European Journal of Public Health 2006 16(5):520-525; doi:10.1093/eurpub/cki196
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Overweight and obesity |
Short-term predictors of abdominal obesity in children
Glykeria Psarra1, George P. Nassis1,2 and Labros S. Sidossis1
1 Laboratory of Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Greece
2 Department of Sport Medicine and Biology of Physical Activity, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Athens, Greece
Correspondence: Labros S Sidossis, PhD, Associate Professor and Director, Laboratory of Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, El. Venizelou 70, Athens 17671, Greece, tel: +30 210 9549154, fax: +30 210 9549141, e-mail: lsidossis{at}hua.gr
Background: The aim of this study was to examine the short-term tracking of abdominal adiposity in children. Methods: A total of 918 children (477 boys) aged 6–12 years at baseline were followed-up for 2 years. Central obesity was assessed by waist circumference (WaistC), whereas body fat distribution by waist-to-hip ratio. Maturity was assessed by the Khamis–Roche method. Parental fatness and children's cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were also evaluated. Multiple and logistic regressions were employed to identify the predictors of BMI and WaistC. Results: Tracking of body fatness and body fat distribution was high (r = 0.69–0.86, P < 0.01). More boys remained obese than girls (P < 0.05), whereas a greater percentage of boys moved to a higher quartile of WaistC after the 2-year follow-up (22.0 vs 14.1%, P < 0.01). Sex, child's maturity and WaistC at baseline, CRF, and maternal BMI explained 76% of the variability in BMI and WaistC at the follow-up (n = 290). Children with high WaistC at baseline and low CRF presented 1.9- and 4.3-fold increased risk of remaining in the upper quartile of WaistC at the follow-up (P < 0.01; n = 552). Conclusion: Youth with increased WaistC at baseline and low CRF presented an increased chance of maintaining central obesity at the follow-up. More boys than girls moved into a higher quartile of abdominal obesity during the 2-year follow-up period and this should be taken into account in designing programmes for childhood obesity.
Keywords: central adiposity, children, fatness, fitness, tracking, waist circumference