Sharmila Thangaraju

Objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of Obesity by Waist to Height Ratio and Body Mass Index. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured in 500 primary school children. Body Mass Index and Waist to Height Ratio were calculated. Categorization of children on the basis of weight, height and Body Mass Index was done. Prevalence of Obesity was determined at Waist to Height Ratio cut offs of 0.48 and 0.5 and compared with Body Mass Index. Prevalence of Obesity as per Body Mass Index was 16.17% in boys and 12.07% in girls. At Waist to Height Ratio cut off of 0.5, 18.72% of boys and 24.9% of girls were obese and at Waist to Height Ratio cut off 0.48, 31.06% of boys and 39.24% of girls were obese. When validated against Body Mass Index, sensitivity and specificity of Waist to Height Ratio at 0.5 cut off were 41.43% and 81.16% respectively and at 0.48 cut off were 55.71% and 67.91% respectively. Hence, Waist to Height Ratio of cut off 0.48 may be employed a useful screening test for Obesity in primary school children.