Isolated and combined presence of elevated anthropometric indices in children: prevalence and sociodemographic correlates

This study analyzed the prevalence and sociodemographic factors associated to the isolated and combined presence of elevated anthropometric indices among children. A cross-sectional study was performed with 2,035 children (aged 6-11 years, 50.1% of girls) who were randomly selected in schools from Colombo, Brazil. Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC) and Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) were classified using reference values. Age, gender, type of school, shift, and residence area were potential risk factors. Binary logistic regression was used (p < 0.05). The prevalence of children with isolated presence of elevated BMI, WHtR or WC was observed in 9.4% (confidence interval [CI] of 95%: 3.3; 15.7), 8.7% (CI 95%: 1.7; 15.9) and 4.4% (CI 95%: 1.0; 7.9), 8.7% of children, respectively. The presence of one or more elevated anthropometric index was observed in 16.9% (CI 95%: 5.4; 28.5) of children. Boys (BMI), younger children (WC) and children from public schools (BMI, WC or WHtR) were high-risk subgroups to the isolated presence of elevated anthropometric indices. Children from public schools and rural areas were high-risk subgroup to the combined presence of elevated anthropometric indices. In conclusion, Public policies to combat childhood obesity may be more effective whether they targeted at children from public schools and rural areas.