To compare the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children using BMI and WHtR, and to assess the predictive ability of WHtR for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Key Findings:
BMI overestimated the prevalence of overweight by 2.8-fold in childhood compared to WHtR.
Of children classified as BMI overweight, 64% had normal fat according to WHtR.
WHtR high fat was associated with higher odds of prediabetes (OR 2.36) and excess fat with type 2 diabetes (OR 6.08).
Interpretation:
WHtR is a more accurate measure than BMI for assessing overweight and obesity in children, and it is associated with metabolic risks.
Limitations:
The study is limited to a specific cohort in the UK, which may affect generalizability.
Reliance on self-reported data for some variables may introduce bias.
Conclusion:
WHtR can be universally adopted for diagnosing and managing excess adiposity in pediatric populations, providing a more reliable alternative to BMI.
