Community childhood obesity assessment in elementary school, anthropometric indices as screening tools: a community cross-sectional study in Indonesia

BackgroundRepresentative anthropometric epidemiological data are needed to formulate screening and intervention methods to prevent obesity in children. This study aims to conduct community childhood obesity assessment in elementary school based on anthropometric measurements and evaluate its predictive value.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out in Palembang, Indonesia, and involved 1180 elementary school students. The anthropometric parameters were divided into (1) basic data: stature, weight and waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC); (2) structural dimensions: the segmental dimensions of head-neck, trunk, upper extremity, hand, lower extremity and foot and (3) postural dimensions: the relative spacial dimensions when standing. Six anthropometric indices were considered: body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), Conicity Index (CI), Body Adiposity Index (BAI) and Tri-ponderal Mass Index (TMI).ResultsThe proportion of overweight and obesity was 50.17% (n=592) and normal weight was 49.83% (n=588). The mean age was 8.26±1.71 years. The averages of all measured indices in overweight/obese versus normal weight were significant difference among boys and girls in height, weight, WC, HC, neck circumference, WHR, WHtR, neck-to-height ratio, BAI, TMI and CI (p