https://imcjms.com/public Ibrahim Medical College Journal of Medical Science https://imcjms.com/public/registration/journal_full_text/42 Tue, 02 Aug 2016 10:11:17 +0000 The new index Body Mass Abdominal Index (BMAI) has been derived by combining two separate indices – weight for height and waist for height ratios. Our study investigated the relationship of common indicators of abdominal adiposity – waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), waist-height ratio (WHTR), conicity index (CI) and newly proposed body mass abdominal index (BMAI) with body mass index (BMI) among 347 pre-school children of Purulia District, India. Results showed that significant correlations were observed for all adiposity measures except WHR. A noteworthy point was that the correlations were strongest (p < 0.01) with BMAI (boys: r = 0.863, girls: r = 0.863). The correlations of BMAI with BMI were similar in both sexes. In conclusion, our results indicate that the new index BMAI has a distinct advantage as it relates much strongly with overall adiposity (BMI) than the other commonly used indicators of adiposity. Address for Correspondence:Dr. Kaushik Bose, Reader in Biological Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore–721 102, West Bengal, India, E-mail: banda@vsnl.net and kaushikbose@cantab.net   Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. Overweight and obesity are defined as “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health”. The problem is global and is steadily affecting many low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. The prevalence has increased at an alarming rate. Globally, in 2010 the number of overweight children under the age of five is estimated to be over 42 million. Close to 35 million of these are living in developing countries. It is difficult to develop one simple index for the measurement of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents because their bodies undergo a number of physiological changes as they grow.1 Furthermore, obesity in children is a cause for concern because it may predict adult obesity and increased risk of coronary heart disease in adult life.6 The adiposity in preschool children is measured by using weight for length, waist-to-height index and body mass index.2 Currently increase in weight gain and obesity in preschool children are measured independently either by weight for length index,7 waist – to - hip ratio,8 or BMI for age.7 There is another index, Conicity index, which is a function of weight, height and waist circumference, but it has been shown in one of the studies that BMI is better than conicity index in predicting coronary artery disease.9 Therefore, all these ratios have mathematical complexity. Recent evidence indicates a disturbing trend of increasing adiposity in developed and developing countries including India.10-12 It would be of interest to determine if a similar trend is observable at an earlier age and that too from a developing country like India, which is currently undergoing a nutritional transition.13 Materials and Methods BMAI= Weight / Height X Waist Circumference          = Weight / (Height)2 X Waist Circumference Where Weight is in kg and Waist Circumference and Height are in meters. The objective of our paper is to study the relationship of four common indicators of abdominal adiposity, namely waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), waist-height ratio (WHTR), conicity index (CI) and BMAI with overall adiposity as measured by BMI. Results       The correlation coefficients (r) of the adiposity measures with BMI are shown in Figure 1. Ideally, any acceptable and good adiposity measure must have a strong positive relationship with BMI which is an indicator of overall adiposity. This should be equally true for both sexes. On the other hand, an adiposity measure at any particular site which does not have a strong relationship with BMI may accurately reflect regional adiposity, but it fails to relate adequately with overall adiposity (BMI). Hence, it may be of limited use in epidemiological studies, particularly those dealing with the anthropometric evaluation of nutritional status. Fig-1. Correlation of BMI with WC, WHR, WHTR, CI and BMAI Conclusion   The co-operation of all participating subjects, villagers and block authorities are gratefully acknowledged. Subal Das received financial assistance in the form of Junior Research Fellowship from University Grants Commission, Government of India (UGC- ref. no. 223/NET- Dec. 2008). References 2.   Kumar PA. Hypothetical Index for Adiposity “Body Mass Abdominal Index”- That will predict Cardiovascular disease risk factors in Children. Internet J Ped Neonat 2009; 11: 1. 4.   Must A, Jacques PF, Dallal GE, Bajema CJ, Dietz WH. “Long-term morbidity and mortality of overweight adolescents. A follow-up of the Harvard Growth Study of 1922 to 1935”. N Engl J Med 1992; 327(19): 1350–1355. 6.   Must A, Strauss RS. Risks and consequences of childhood and adolescent obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1999; 23: S 2-11. 8.   Li C, Ford ES, Mokdad AH, Cook S. Recent studies in waist circumference and waist – height ratio among US children and adolescents. Pediatr 2006; 118: e1390-e1398. 10.Nunez-Rivers HP, Monge-Rojas R, Leon H, Rosello M. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Costa Rican elementary school children. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2003; 13: 24-32. 12.Kapil U, Sing P, Dwivedi SN, Bhasin S. Prevalence of obesity amongst affluent adolescent school children in Delhi. Indian Pediatr 2002; 39: 449-452. 2026 Ibrahim Medical College. All rights reserved.