Which measure best finds kids at risk for health problems?
A Comparison between BMI, Waist Circumference, and Waist-To-Height Ratio for Identifying Cardio-Metabolic Risk in Children and Adolescents
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Current measurements are better at ruling out risk than confirming it (high specificity, low sensitivity)
People assume BMI is a reliable predictor for health risks, but it's actually better at saying 'no problem' than 'yes problem', leading to many missed cases.
Practical Takeaways
Use BMI as a quick screen but don't rely on it alone—check for symptoms like high blood pressure or fatigue even if BMI looks normal.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Current measurements are better at ruling out risk than confirming it (high specificity, low sensitivity)
People assume BMI is a reliable predictor for health risks, but it's actually better at saying 'no problem' than 'yes problem', leading to many missed cases.
Practical Takeaways
Use BMI as a quick screen but don't rely on it alone—check for symptoms like high blood pressure or fatigue even if BMI looks normal.
Publication
Journal
PLoS ONE
Year
2016
Authors
L. Sardinha, D. Santos, A. Silva, A. Grøntved, L. Andersen, U. Ekelund
Related Content
Claims (6)
Increased waist circumference is associated with a higher risk of metabolic disease and mortality, independent of total body weight.
Overweight kids 8-17 are 2.6-3.5 times more likely to have heart/metabolic risks, and obese kids are about 14 times more likely, compared to normal-weight peers.
For kids and teens aged 8 to 17, measuring body mass index, waist size, or waist-to-height ratio all show similar ability to spot those at risk for heart and metabolic problems, with accuracy scores between 0.70 and 0.74.
For kids 8-17, these body measurements are better at correctly identifying those who don't have heart/metabolic risks (high specificity) than those who do (low sensitivity), leading to many missed cases.
In kids 8-17, these body measurements are much better at predicting heart/metabolic risks in overweight or obese children than in those with normal weight, with stronger links in the higher weight groups.