Alternatives to Body Mass Index (BMI): Neck Circumference as an Indicator of Obesity in Kids

As I noted in my previous post, Body Mass Index (BMI) is a controversial tool for identifying obesity. The good news is that there’s a new and more accurate measure available for predicting obesity risk in kids.

According to a recent study in the journal Pediatrics, neck circumference appears to be an easy and much more accurate indicator of obesity in kids than the standard BMI calculation. While adults may develop a muscular neck due to work or exercise, the same is not true of kids.

Researchers measured neck size in 1100 kids between the ages of 6-18 and found that it accurately predicted obesity in a high percentage of cases. For example, a six year old boy with a neck circumference of greater than 11.2 inches was found to be 3.6 times more likely to be overweight or obese than a peer below that level.

The reason this measure works so well is that there’s a strong correlation between neck circumference and belly fat in kids. Excessive belly fat has been linked to a number maladies including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. While one could simply screen for belly fat, it’s much easier to quickly and accurately measure neck circumference.

Source: CNN/Health

Filed under: Health & Fitness
Tags: bmi, kids, obesity, weight loss