title: Defining Obesity Using a Biological End Point in Sri Lankan Children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the percentage of body fat mass (FM) that would define obesity among Sri Lankan children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 5-15 y old children in the district of Colombo. FM was assessed using Bio Impedance Assay (BIA). After a 12 h overnight fast, blood was drawn for fasting blood glucose (FBS) and lipid profile. Oral-glucose-tolerance test (OGTT) was done along with 2 h random blood sugar (RBS). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was diagnosed by a high waist circumference (WC) with ≥2 metabolic derangements [FBS/RBS, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP)]. Receiver-Operator Characteristics (ROCs) were drawn to determine the best %FM that predicted MetS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine hundred twenty children were studied (547 boys). Fifteen (1.6 %) had MetS. Ninety five (10.3 %) had two and 16(1.7 %) had ≥3 metabolic derangements. MetS in boys was associated with %FM of 28.6 (sensitivity 1.000; specificity 0.870) and in girls 33.7 (sensitivity 0.875; specificity 0.808).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FM associated with adverse health outcomes in this population is comparable to other available data. A %FM of 28.6 % for boys and 33.7 % for girls would be acceptable cutoff limits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka. pujithaw@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Vithanage Pujitha
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Wickramasinghe
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Carukshi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arambepola
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Priyantha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bandara
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Mithila
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abeysekera
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Suran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuruppu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Prasanna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dilshan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Buddhini Samanthi
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Dissanayake
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Fat mass; Fat percentage; Metabolic derangements; Obesity diagnosis; Sri Lankan children