title: Distribution of BMI in children: prevalence of wasting and fattening conditions.
abstract: This paper reports a study of body-mass index (weight/height2) frequency distribution in 2858 schoolchildren (1440 males, 1418 females), 6-14 years old: (a) not taking into account the degree of skewness (z-score) and (b) taking it into account (LMS method by Cole). The z-score detected no evident problems of severe wasting conditions, but did detect the presence of severe fattening conditions. The LMS method gave a more balanced distribution. Methods that do not take into account the degree of skewness should be avoided in estimates concerning prevalence of wasting and stunting conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zannolli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morgese
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001699:Biometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology