Validity of Parentally Reported Weight and Height for Preschool-Aged Children in Belgium and Its Impact on Classification Into Body Mass Index Categories

Huybrechts, Inge; Bacquer, Dirk De; Trimpont, Ingeborg Van; Backer, Gui De; Henauw, Stefaan De

doi:10.1542/peds.2006-0961

Cited by 73 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Previous studies have consistently shown that, on average, weights are underestimated, heights are overestimated and the resultant BMIs are underestimated, although the correlations between self-reported and measured values are strongly high. [46][47][48] Thus, it is likely that the prevalence of overweight based on self-reported data in this study is underestimated, which might have diluted the present findings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load in relation to risk of overweight in Japanese children and adolescents: the Ryukyus Child Health Study

et al. 2011

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Objective: Epidemiologic evidence concerning the role of dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) in obesity during childhood and adolescence is limited, particularly in non-Western populations. We examined the association between dietary GI and GL as well as dietary fiber intake and overweight status in Japanese children and adolescents. Subjects: This Japanese cross-sectional study included 15 974 children (6-11 years; 7956 boys and 8018 girls) and 8202 adolescents (12-15 years; 3944 boys and 4258 girls). Methods: Dietary intake was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire for children and adolescents. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported body weight and height. Overweight was defined according to the International Obesity Task Force age-and sex-specific BMI cutoffs, which correspond to an adult BMI of X25 kg m -2 . Results: The overall prevalence of overweight was 13.2%. Mean (s.d.) dietary GI was 63.0 (3.1), mean dietary GL was 85.0 (12.4) per 4184 kJ (1000 kcal) and mean dietary fiber intake was 5.9 (1.2) g/4184 kJ. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, dietary GL was positively associated with the risk of overweight in male children, female children and male adolescents (P for trend o0.0001, o0.0001 and 0.006, respectively), but not in female adolescents. No such independent associations were observed for dietary GI or fiber intake. Conclusion: This large cross-sectional study in Japan suggests that higher dietary GL is associated with increasing risk of overweight in male and female children and male adolescents, but not female adolescents.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load in relation to risk of overweight in Japanese children and adolescents: the Ryukyus Child Health Study

et al. 2011

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“…Nevertheless, for most studies that make direct comparisons, the mean parent-reported child height and weight were close to the corresponding measured means, usually within Ϯ1 cm or Ϯ1 kg, [76][77][78][79][80] and reasonably represented by underestimates and overestimates of the measured means. There are, however, exceptions.…”

Section: Parent-reported Height Weight and Bmimentioning

confidence: 86%

Challenges of Accurately Measuring and Using BMI and Other Indicators of Obesity in Children

2009

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BMI is an important indicator of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence. When measurements are taken carefully and compared with appropriate growth charts and recommended cutoffs, BMI provides an excellent indicator of overweight and obesity that is sufficient for most clinical, screening, and surveillance purposes. Accurate measurements of height and weight require that adequate attention be given to data collection and management. Choosing appropriate equipment and measurement protocols and providing regular training and standardization of data collectors are critical aspects that apply to all settings in which BMI will be measured and used. Proxy measures for directly measured BMI, such as self-reports or parental reports of height and weight, are much less preferred and should only be used with caution and cognizance of the limitations, biases, and uncertainties attending these measures. There is little evidence that other measures of body fat such as skinfolds, waist circumference, or bioelectrical impedance are sufficiently practicable or provide appreciable added information to be used in the identification of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese. Consequently, for most clinical, school, or community settings these measures are not recommended for routine practice. These alternative measures of fatness remain important for research and perhaps in some specialized screening situations that include a specific focus on risk factors for cardiovascular or diabetic disease. ]) has probably become the most common indicator used to assess overweight and obesity in a wide variety of settings, including clinical, public health, and community-based programs. Although it is certainly not a perfect surrogate for total body fatness and not without its technical limitations, 1 BMI has been recommended as the most appropriate single indicator of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents outside of research settings. [2][3][4] One of the attractive features of BMI is that it is derived from measurements of height and weight. These 2 anthropometric dimensions are the ones most commonly collected on children worldwide. These 2 measurements are noninvasive, relatively inexpensive to obtain, and relatively easily understood by health practitioners, the individuals being measured, and their families.Mentioning child measurements of height and weight, individuals may be reminded of their own marks on the door sills and the bathroom scales of their childhood homes. So, although wide familiarity with height and weight enhances the use and understanding of a measure such as BMI, it also may desensitize health professionals to the need to give adequate attention to issues concerning how height and weight data are collected. Accordingly, one may hear the comment, "Anyone can measure height and weight." Although one must actually agree with the language, if not the intent, of this easy declaration, many health professionals are unaware that there are consequences for the usefulness and ac...

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“…These errors generally resulted from the under-reporting of height" (p. 8). Likewise, in their Belgian study, Huybrechts et al (2006) stipulate how substantial these biases can be: "Among all children requiring nutritional advice on the basis of being overweight or obese, more than one half of the overweight children and >75% of the obese children would be missed with the use of parentally reported weight and height values" (p. 2109).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is considerable evidence that such self-reporting leads to large biases (e.g. Huybrechts et al, 2006;Shields et al, 2011). 6 Our paper, therefore, not only investigates the association between maternal employment and obesity but contributes to the existing literature by exploring the association between maternal work and meal patterns, diet and physical activity from a European perspective.…”

Section: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal employment and childhood obesity – A European perspective

Gwozdz

Sousa‐Poza

Reisch

et al. 2013

Journal of Health Economics

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The substantial increase in female employment rates in Europe over the past two decades has often been linked in political and public rhetoric to negative effects on child development, including obesity. We analyse this association between maternal employment and childhood obesity using rich objective reports of various anthropometric and other measures of fatness from the IDEFICS study of children aged 2-9 in 16 regions of eight European countries.Based on such data as accelerometer measures and information from nutritional diaries, we also investigate the effects of maternal employment on obesity's main drivers: calorie intake and physical activity. Our analysis provides little evidence for any association between maternal employment and childhood obesity, diet or physical activity. JEL-Classification: I12, J13, J22

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Validity of Parentally Reported Weight and Height for Preschool-Aged Children in Belgium and Its Impact on Classification Into Body Mass Index Categories

Abstract: Our results show the inaccuracy of parentally reported weight and height values in Belgium for classifying preschool-aged children into BMI categories. Therefore, accurate measurements of weight and height should be encouraged in studies in which BMI of children is a variable of interest.

Cited by 73 publications

References 17 publications

Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load in relation to risk of overweight in Japanese children and adolescents: the Ryukyus Child Health Study

Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load in relation to risk of overweight in Japanese children and adolescents: the Ryukyus Child Health Study

Challenges of Accurately Measuring and Using BMI and Other Indicators of Obesity in Children

Maternal employment and childhood obesity – A European perspective

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