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Obesity
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Gender-specific
waist circumferences are presented that denote ‘increased risk’ (level
1) and ‘substantially increased risk’ (level 2) of metabolic
complications associated with obesity in Caucasians. Level 1 is intended
to alert clinicians to potential risk for CHD whereas level 2 should
initiate therapeutic action
Source: Peter, 2000
While BMI seems
appropriate for differentiating adults, it may not be as useful in
children because of their changing body shape as they progress through
normal growth. In addition, BMI fails to distinguish between fat and
fat-free mass (muscle and bone) and may exaggerate obesity in large
muscular children (Eckel and Krauss, 1998). While health consequences of
obesity are related to excess fatness, the ideal method of
classification should be based on direct measurement of fatness.
Although methods such as densitometry can be used in research practice,
they are not feasible for clinical settings (Chan, 1994).
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