Comparison of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 9-13 year-old children from two countries using CDC and IOTF reference charts
Date
2018Author
Toriola, Abel
Ajayi-Vincent, Olusesi
Oyeniyi, Patrick
Akindutire, Isaac
Adeagbo, David
Konwea, Patience
Awosusi, Olukemi
Ogunsile, Seyi
Moselakgomo, Violet Kankane
Onagbiye, Sunday
Monyeki, Makama
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background and Objectives: The epidemic of obesity is frequently prevailing, certainly among pediatric inhabitants and could be influenced
by environmental and heritable factors. So, the aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 9-13 year old
children from Nigeria and South Africa using the criteria of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and International Obesity
Task Force (IOTF) for obesity classification chart based on age and gender-specific BMI cut-off points. Materials and Methods:
Anthropometric measurements were taken using standardised protocol and used to estimate body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height
ratio (WHtR) in 1361 South African and 1229 Nigeria school children aged 9-13 year old. Height, body weight, BMI and WHtR were examined
for Nigerian and South African school children according to sample size and age category. The BMI for age was used to classify the children
according to weight categories and by gender, after which the obesity prevalence using the BMI Category for cut-off points chart was
performed by age and countries. Results: The results showed that 1.1% (IOTF) and 9.9% (CDC) of Nigerian children were overweight.
Corresponding data for South African children were 1.8% (IOTF) and 10.0% (CDC). Obesity estimates for Nigerian and South African children
slightly varied for IOTF classification (1.1, 0.7%), but were similar when CDC classification was used (5.1%). In contrast, the CDC standard
indicated strikingly lower incidence of underweight among the South African (4.9%) and Nigerian (4.8%) children. Conclusion: The lack of
consistency in body weight classification using CDC and IOTF chart raises the question as to the right classification to use to evaluate weight
abnormalities in children and adolescents. The choice of cut-off point in assessing overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence
should be based on reliable judgment as this could undermine the integrity of epidemiological research data.