title: Accuracy of Neck Circumference in Classifying Overweight and Obese US Children.
abstract: Objective. To evaluate classification accuracy of NC and compare it with body mass index (BMI) in identifying overweight/obese US children. Methods. Data were collected from 92 children (boys: 61) aged 7 to 13 over a 2-year period. NC, BMI, and percent of body fat (BF%) were measured in each child and their corresponding cut-off values were applied to classify the children as being overweight/obese. Classification accuracy of NC and BMI was systematically investigated for boys and girls in relation to true overweight/obesity categorization as assessed with a criterion measure of BF% (i.e., Bod Pod). Results. For boys, Cohen's κ (0.25), sensitivity (38.1%), and specificity (85.0%) of NC were smaller in comparison with Cohen's κ (0.57), sensitivity (57.1%), and specificity (95.0%) of BMI in relation to BF% categorization. For girls, Cohen's κ (0.45), sensitivity (50.0%), and specificity (91.3%) of NC were smaller in comparison with Cohen's κ (0.52), sensitivity (50.0%), and specificity (95.7%) of BMI. Conclusion. NC measurement was not better than BMI in classifying childhood overweight/obesity and, for boys, NC was inferior to BMI. Pediatricians and/or pediatric researchers should be cautious or wary about incorporating NC measurements in their pediatric care and/or research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, 235 Forker Building, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
authors.forename: Youngwon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7846-7191
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, 235 Forker Building, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
authors.forename: Jung-Min
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8801-1027
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Illinois State University, Campus Box 5120, 250 McCormick Hall, Normal, I1 61790, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1028-046X
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laurson
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, 235 Forker Building, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6751-3896
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Arizona State University, 502 East Monroe Street, Suite C 250, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA.
authors.forename: Glenn A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Gaesser
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, 235 Forker Building, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Welk