Predictive capacity of some anthropometric indices supporting early diagnosis of obesity in adolescents: review

General Medicine, 2024, 26(5), 40-47.

S. Todorova, R. Koycheva

Department of Internal Diseases and General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University ‒ Stara Zagora

Abstract. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents is increasing worldwide and has reached epidemic proportions. The aim of the presented review article is to share current information on predictive potential of some newly introduced and widely used in the medical practice anthropometric indices supporting the early diagnosis of obesity in adolescents. Published national research, cohort or cross-sectional studies (Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus and PubMed) were searched, with limits of time period within the last 10 years. The scientific publications in full text that provide verified information on search topic were included and analyzed. Although several anthropometric indices have been proposed and established as indicators of obesity in adolescents (body mass index, and in particular in visceral obesity ‒ waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio), neither of which has been accepted as a gold standard measure. Other anthropometric indices for early diagnosis of obesity and prediction of the associated cardiometabolic теalterations such as Tri-ponderal mass index, conicity-index, body shape index, the visceral adiposity index and body roundness index were developed, but the results of research on their reliability and predictability conducted to date are controversial. Given the advantages of anthropometric indices, characterized by ease of measurement, economy and non-invasiveness, they have become established as a convenient and practical option for determining pediatric obesity in the medical practice. At this stage, variations are found in the conclusions regarding the superiority of one or another anthropometric predictors and the associated cut-off values for detecting obesity in teenagers.

Key words: anthropometric indices, obesity, adolescents

Address for correspondence: Sevdalina Alekova Todorova, MD, e-mail: sevdalina.alekova@abv.bg