An investigation of anthropometric measurements of early adolescents and determination of BMI-for-age-based neck circumference and BMI-for-age-based mid-upper-arm circumference cut-off points

Abstract

Background & aims: This study aimed to examine the anthropometric measurements of adolescents between the ages of 10 and 13, and to determine the BMI-for-age-based neck circumference (NC) and BMI-for-age-based mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) cut-off points for this age group.

Methods: This methodological study was conducted with 626 students of early adolescent age in Kırklareli in Turkey. The cut-off values of BMI-for-age-based NC and MUAC were determined by ROC analysis from severe thinness to obesity. The most suitable AUC value was evaluated according to LR(+) and LR(-) and Sensitivity and Specificity were shown.

Results: The frequency of severe thinness, thinness, overweight, obese among adolescents was 8.0%, 8.9%, 11.7%, and 16.3%, respectively. WHpR of 14.4% of the adolescents was ≥0.90 in boys and ≥0.85 in girls. According to WHtR, 23.8% had a value of <0.40 and, 17.8% had a value of ≥0.50. BMI-for-age-based NC cut-off points were severe thinness, thinness, overweight, obesity 25.50, 26.50, 29.50, 30.50 cm in girls, respectively; 26.50, 27.50, 30.50, 31.50 cm in boys, respectively. BMI-for-age-based MUAC cut-off points were severe thinness, thinness, overweight, obesity 19.50, 20.50, 24.50, 25.50 cm in girls, respectively; 19.50, 20.50, 25.50, 26.50 cm in boys, respectively.

Conclusions: Double burden of malnutrition was identified in early adolescents. The cutoff points for NC and MUAC found in this study showed good specificity to identify double burden of malnutrition in early adolescents and can be used as a reference in especially in cases of insufficient resources or isolated environments.

Keywords: Anthropometry; Cut-off points; Early adolescence; Mid-upper arm circumference; Neck circumference.