Does Adjusting for Pubertal Stage Alter Diagnostic Criteria for Overweight in Youth?

Yes: The prevalence of both overweight and obesity was reduced significantly when adjusted for pubertal stage, especially in Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic Blacks.

The diagnosis of overweight or obesity might change a young person's lifestyle, diet, and body image. To determine if adjusting for pubertal stage, based on Tanner staging, would alter the diagnosis of overweight (Z-score adjusted for body-mass index [BMI] that was equivalent to an age- and sex-adjusted BMI of ≥85th percentile) or obesity (equivalent to an age- and sex-adjusted BMI of ≥95th percentile), researchers reviewed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III on 3206 youths aged 8 to 18 years (mean, 14 years), who were Mexican-American, non-Hispanic white, or non-Hispanic black.

In analyses of BMI adjusted only for sex and age, 29% of boys and girls were overweight, and 14% of boys and 11% of girls were obese. …

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

Does Adjusting for Pubertal Stage Alter Diagnostic Criteria for Overweight in Youth?

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Reviewing Author