Validation of a Useful Tool for Screening for Overweight and Obesity in Pre-Adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this observational study with a convenience sample is to validate a simple measurement of the mid-upper arm circumference to establish the screening points using the mid-upper arm circumference tape (MUAC) for childhood overweight and obesity between 9 and 12 years of age, or from 4th grade to 6th grade. Prior to the screening study, a pilot validation study of the MUAC tape measure versus anthropometric standard tape was carried out. The total sample for the screening cut-offs was 360 school students. The results obtained had a predictive value according to the evaluation of the area under the curve of 0.96 and overweight detection cut-off points were established at 23.3 and 22.4 cm for 4th grade, 23.6 and 22.7 cm for 5th grade and 24.6 and 23.8 cm for 6th grade for boys and girls, respectively. The cut-off points for the detection of obesity were established at 25.2 and 23.9 cm for 4th grade, 26.4 and 25.1 cm for 5th grade, and 27.7 and 26.4 cm for 6th grade boys and girls, respectively. The cut-off values of the MUAC are different not only between the sexes, but also increase as age or the specific course increases.

Performance of mid‐upper arm circumference to identify adolescents with obesity and metabolic syndrome: NHANES 2011–2018 analysis

“…25 Another study found that mid-upper arm circumference measurement was a simple and effective tool for screening childhood overweight and obesity, with high specificity and sensitivity. 26 The discrepancy in discriminatory performance between our study and others might be attributed to the use of BMI as the reference method in previous studies. Furthermore, the age and race differences amongst study participants may have contributed to the disparity.…”

“…A study conducted on adolescents from Namibia found that mid‐arm circumference is a more precise way of categorizing high body fatness in girls than the traditional proxy, BMI 25 . Another study found that mid‐upper arm circumference measurement was a simple and effective tool for screening childhood overweight and obesity, with high specificity and sensitivity 26 . The discrepancy in discriminatory performance between our study and others might be attributed to the use of BMI as the reference method in previous studies.…”