The Waist-to-height Ratio of Eleven Aged School Children in Serbia-pilot Study

Introduction: The waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), calculated by dividing the waist circumference (WC) by height is newer anthropometric index. A WHtR cut-off 0.5 is generally accepted as a universal cut-off value for central obesity in children (aged ≥6 years) and adults. It represents a screening tool in detecting children with higher cardiometabolic risk. More and more school children have abdominal obesity, and children are less physically active.

Objective: Application of WHtR for the first time and valuation regardless to nutritional status and physical activity of school children

Method: At an primary health office during physical examination of 183 children (94 boys and 87 girls) aged 10.9± 0.4 weight, height, WC were measured, and BMI and WHtR were calculated. The data about the recreational and active coaching physical activity of children was recorded. Statistical analysis were performed.

Results: The mean value WHtR was 0.48± 0.17, for boys 0.51±0.23 and girls 0.46± 0.07. There is no statistically significant difference among them. Average values of WHtR are very similar (p = 0.159) between the children who exercise WHtR 0.50± 0.25, and which are not physically active WHtR 0.46±0.07. WHtR values were similar (p= 0.464) between 38 normal weight WHtR 0.49± 0.32, and 31 overweight-obese boys WHtR 0.53±0.06. While, in girls there is a statistically significant difference (p< 0.001) between 54 normal weight WHtR 0.44±0.05 and 23 overweight-obese girls WHtR 0.52±0.07.

Conclusion: In this pilot study, the WHtR average value for school children of this age corresponds to WHtR cut-off value, regardless of gender, which is still good but represents a warning in the same time. Usually, obese and overweight children are encouraged to exercise more, especially boys. This could be the explanation for the obtained similarity. Additional studies are required but there is the unquestionable benefit of WHtR as a screening tool.