title: Correlation between peak flow and body mass index in  obese and non-obese children in Kocaeli, Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) values in children between the ages of 6 and 14 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from 1,439 children during public health screening. Each child was classified on the basis of age- and sex-specific BMI percentile as non-obese or obese (BMI >95th percentile). PEF and BMI were compared among age-sex-BMI percentile groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PEF values were lower in obese children than in non-obese children. There were also significant differences between girls and boys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association of higher BMI with lower PEF may indicate that obesity is an important risk factor for reduced airflow or lung function in children. These findings emphasise the importance of the prevention of obesity in children and adolescents in order to avoid possible future respiratory problems.
authors: Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Hospital, 41100, Kocaeli, Turkey. z.gundo@gmail.com
authors: Zuhal
authors: Z
authors: Gundogdu
authors: Nihal
authors: N
authors: Eryilmaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology