Neck Circumference as a Predictor of Adiposity among Healthy and Obese Children.
BACKGROUND
Obesity, particularly in the upper part of body, is a major health problem. Because body mass index (BMI) does not adequately describe regional adiposity, other indices of body fatness are being explored.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if neck circumference is a valid measure of adiposity (fat distribution) among group of Egyptian children.


METHODS
This is a cross sectional study, included 50 obese subjects, aged 7 - 12 years recruited from Endocrine, obesity and Metabolism Pediatric Unit at Children Hospital, Cairo University and 50 healthy children, age and sex matched. All children were subjected to blood pressure assessment (systolic SBP and diastolic DBP), and anthropometric assessment (body weight, height, neck circumference (NC), waist (WC) and hip (HC) circumferences, and skin fold thicknesses at three sites: biceps, triceps and sub scapular. BMI [weight (kg)/height (m2)] was calculated.


RESULTS
In healthy females, significant associations were detected between NC and SBP, DBP and all anthropometric measurements. However, in healthy males NC was not significantly associated with BMI, SBP and DBP. In the obese group; both sexes; insignificant association was found between NC and SBP, DBP, BMI and skinfold thickness.


CONCLUSIONS
NC is related to fat distribution among normal healthy female children. However, this relation disappears with increasing adiposity. The results do not support the use of NC as a useful screening tool for childhood obesity.
Biological Anthropology Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt (Affiliation ID 60014618).
Nayera E
NE
Hassan
Department of Pediatrics, Diabetes Endocrine and Metabolism Pediatric Unit (DEMPU), New Children's Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Abeer
A
Atef
Biological Anthropology Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt (Affiliation ID 60014618).
Sahar A
SA
El-Masry
Department of Pediatrics, Diabetes Endocrine and Metabolism Pediatric Unit (DEMPU), New Children's Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Amany
A
Ibrahim
Child Health Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt (Affiliation ID: 60014618).
Mones M Abu
MM
Shady
Biological Anthropology Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt (Affiliation ID 60014618).
Muhammad
M
Al-Tohamy
Child Health Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt (Affiliation ID: 60014618).
Iman H
IH
Kamel
Biological Anthropology Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt (Affiliation ID 60014618).
Galal Ismail Ahmed
GI
Elashry
blood pressure; body mass index; children; fat distribution; neck circumference