For young kids in the Pacific islands, measuring their waist size can help spot a skin condition called acanthosis nigricans. For boys 2-5 years old, a waist size of about 58 cm (90th percentile) correctly identifies about half of the kids with the skin condition and correctly rules it out for 91% of kids without it.

Scientific Claim

Waist circumference cut points are associated with the presence of acanthosis nigricans in children aged 2-8 years from the US-Affiliated Pacific region, with boys aged 2-5 years having a cut point of 58.25 cm (90th percentile) showing 48.0% sensitivity and 91.5% specificity.

Original Statement

“For boys aged 2 to 5 years, 90th percentile (58.25 cm; sensitivity, 48.0%; specificity, 91.5%);”

From study:Determination of Child Waist Circumference Cut Points for Metabolic Risk Based on Acanthosis Nigricans, the Children’s Healthy Living Program

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The study is cross-sectional and shows association, not causation. Using 'associated with' is appropriate. The specific numbers and context are correctly stated.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Determination of Child Waist Circumference Cut Points for Metabolic Risk Based on Acanthosis Nigricans, the Children’s Healthy Living Program

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2021 Jun 24

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Determination of Child Waist Circumference Cut Points for Metabolic Risk Based on Acanthosis Nigricans, the Children’s Healthy Living Program

Score: 36

DOI: 10.5888/pcd18.210021

Similar Assertions

Using different waist size cutoffs based on age and gender works better for spotting the skin condition acanthosis nigricans than using one cutoff for all kids in the Pacific islands.

88%

For girls 2-5 years old in the Pacific islands, a smaller waist size (53.3 cm at 62nd percentile) is used to predict the skin condition acanthosis nigricans compared to boys of the same age (58.3 cm at 90th percentile).

88%

For girls 6-8 years old in the Pacific islands, using a waist size of 63.6 cm (80th percentile) correctly identifies about 55% of kids with the skin condition acanthosis nigricans and correctly rules it out for 83% of kids without it.

88%

For boys aged 6-8 in the Pacific islands, the waist size that best predicts the skin condition acanthosis nigricans is smaller (63.6 cm) than the standard cutoff (71.6 cm) used by the International Diabetes Federation.

87%

For some age and gender groups in the Pacific islands, the waist size cutoff for the skin condition acanthosis nigricans is lower than the standard cutoff recommended by the International Diabetes Federation.

84%