Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Excess Adiposity Among Overweight Children and Adolescents: The Bogalusa Heart Study
Received 11 April 2006; received in revised form 23 June 2006; accepted 23 August 2006.
Refers to article:
Extreme Pediatric Obesity: Weighing the Health Dangers
Stavra A. Xanthakos, Thomas H. Inge
The Journal of Pediatrics
January 2007 (Vol. 150, Issue 1, Pages 3-5) Full Text |
Full-Text PDF (67 KB)
Objective
To explore the accuracy of various body mass index (BMI) cutpoints in identifying children who have excess adiposity (based on skinfold thicknesses), adverse levels of lipids, insulin, and blood pressures, and a high risk for severe adult obesity.
Study design
Cross-sectional (n = 10,099) and longitudinal (n = 2392) analyses were performed among subjects who participated in the Bogalusa Heart Study.
Results
Of children with a BMI ≥95th percentile (P) of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) growth charts, 39% had at least two risk factors, 65% had excess adiposity, and 65% had an adult BMI of ≥35 kg/m2. Of those with a BMI ≥99th P, 59% had at least two risk factors, 94% had excess adiposity, and 88% had an adult BMI of ≥35 kg/m2. About 4% of children in the US now have a BMI ≥99th P.
Conclusions
The 99th P of BMI-for-age may be appropriate for identifying children who are at very high risk for biochemical abnormalities and severe adult obesity. More aggressive weight control strategies may be warranted for this subgroup.
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; and Tulane Center for Cardiovascular Health, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Reprint requests: David S Freedman, CDC K-26, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta GA 30341.
The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the CDC.
Supported by National Institutes of Aging Grant AG-16592.
ABSTRACT