Validity of convenient indicators of obesity, Sahar El-Masry and Nayera Hassan
Sahar A. El-Masry and Nayera E. Hassan, National Research Centre, Egypt
Abstract: Study objective is to evaluate the validity of body mass index (BMI) and fat mass index (FMI) as indicators of obesity in 272 boys and 242 girls aged 3–5 years. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was used to calculate percentage fat mass (%BF) and FMI (fat mass/stature2). Boys and girls were considered obese when %BF ≥25 and ≥30, respectively. The highest prevalence of obesity detected by using different cut-offs BMI or FMI was found at 90th percentile for both sexes. BMI and FMI had high specificities and lower but variable sensitivities. FMI is associated with a level of sensitivity that is somewhat higher than that of BMI. BMI should be used with caution as an indicator of childhood obesity. Further investigations are required to define the best cut off point of obesity for Egyptian children.
Keywords: Obesity, BMI, Body mass index, FMI, Fat mass index, SN, Sensitivity, SP, Specificity, Children