Subha Sankar Dutta, Arunabha Tapadar
BACKGROUND Obesity in the adolescent school going population is an emerging problem in both affluent countries and in developing economies. Different authorities have devised different charts and tables for assessment of pediatric obesity. Different growth charts are based on different population studies in different countries. The two most prevalent assessment tools for paediatric obesity are the CDC 2000 and WHO 2007 Growth Charts. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was carried out on an adolescent school going population of 12 to 14 years of age. The study was carried out in a high school located in a semi urban area of Aurangabad. Body weights and heights of 84 boys and 46 boys were taken and the Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. The BMI was plotted against the age in growth charts designed by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC 2000) and the World Health Organization (WHO 2007). The results of the different charts were then compared. RESULTS Both the CDC 2000 and the WHO 2007 growth charts showed a similar distribution of values. In the CDC growth chart, one boy was found to be obese (> 95th percentile). In the WHO growth chart three boys and four girls were found to be overweight (>1 SD from the mean), while one was obese (>2 SD from the mean). CONCLUSION Although both charts have shown a similar distribution of most values, the WHO growth chart is more useful and acceptable as it has gradations showing the levels of overweight and obese individuals. Moreover, the chart has been developed from data which are more representative of global trends.
