Abstract

CRESP-BARRIA, Mauricio et al. Correlating anthropometric variables as health predictors in a group of children and adolescents suffering Down's syndrome in Temuco, Chile. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2014, vol.62, n.2, pp.193-198. ISSN 0120-0011.  https://doi.org/10.15446/revfacmed.v62n2.45333.

Background. The importance of investigating obesity has grown during recent years, especially regarding groups of people involving long-term special education needs, such as Down's syndrome. Objective. Determining the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference and BMI and hip circumference in children and teenagers suffering Down's syndrome. Materials and methods. This cross-sectional study involved evaluating 42 children and adolescents aged 3 to 16 years old; 23 of them were male (54.7%) and 19 female (35.3%) and all were studying in specialised schools in Temuco, Chile. The method described by the WHO was used for obtaining BMI, waist and hip circumference measurements. Results. A high correlation was seen for both BMI and waist circumference (0.776) and BMI and hip circumference (0.771). It was also seen that 61.9% of the population studied were overweight or obese; 52.1% of the males and 73.6% of the females were either obese or overweight. Discussion. It is thus recommended that waist and hip circumference and BMI should be used for the early detection of obesity-related problems. Efforts should be specifically focused on this special population of people, leading to strategies involving healthcare workers in different areas as well as physical exercise. This would lead to the systematic prevention of obesity and associated pathologies from an early age.

Keywords : Body Mass Index; Waist - Hip Ratio; Obesity; Overweight; Down Syndrome; Child; Adolescent.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )