[Usefulness of the 5-6-yrs-old anthropometric health report for the evaluation of childhood overweight and obesity: pilot study in Lombardia (Italy)].
OBJECTIVE
To verify the possibility to use the Anthropometric Health Report (AHR), containing the BMI value, for overweight/obesity evaluation in 5-6-years-old children.


METHODS
Between January 2001 and December 2004, 4619 AHR had been examined. BMI values were compared with age and sex-specific BMI cutoffs, according to Cole, as well as with a single BMI value, calculated as the mean between boys and girls cutoff at 5.5 yrs of age.


METHODS
4619 children of ASL Provincia di Milano 2, aged 5-6 years were examined. PARTECIPANTS: 81 Family Pediatricians working in the area of Provincia di Milano 2.


METHODS
An easily available and low cost method for epidemiological studies on overweight and obesity in childhood.


RESULTS
During the study period the number of examined children increased constantly (from 8% to 30% of the overall resident population). Also the correct compilation of the AHR raised (from 47% to 95%). The elevated percentage of overweight children (range 17-23%) and obese children (range 5-7%) in the study group confirms other published data in this age group. The use of a single BMI cutoff did not affect significantly (p > 0.05) the results with regard to the use ofage and sex-specific cut offs. Required time for carrying out the study was limited. Efficiency increased during the study: the number ofAHRs analyzed per hour increased from 37.5 in 2001 to 103.5 in 2004. Some critical points about current uses of AHR are discussed


CONCLUSIONS
AHR could be used for epidemiological purposes. It could be considered an useful method in monitoring overweight/obesity in 5-6 years old children as well as in checking the efficacy of prevention and therapeutic strategies.
Brambilla
Paolo
P
Pediatra di libera scelta, Federazione italiana medici pediatri, Dipartimento di formazione permanente, Lombardia. paolo.brambilla3@tin.it
Pattarino
Giulia
G
Vezzoni
Maria
M
Giussani
Marco
M
Picca
Marina
M
Acerbi
Luigi
L
Invernizzi
Daniela
D
Guazzarotti
Laura
L
Marinello
Roberto
R
di Natale
Berardo
B
Zuccotti
Gian Vincenzo
GV
D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D050177:Overweight; D010865:Pilot Projects