Measuring the circumference of the neck can help diagnose problems with overweight and obesity in children, argue experts, whose conclusions were published in the journal Pediatrics.
Experts from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) point out that relying on body mass index (BMI) is not enough to estimate body fat. Therefore, we are looking for methods that will more accurately determine how many unnecessary kilograms are caused by fat accumulated in the patient’s body, as opposed to muscle and bone mass. One of the quick and easy methods is measuring waist circumference, which is better than BMI alone in estimating the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.
Less researched, although raising more and more hopes, method is to control the circumference of the neck. The latest research shows that it can be successfully used in children after the age of six.
Dr. Olubukola Nafiu from the University of Michigan conducted a study among more than 6 children and adolescents aged 18 to XNUMX. He then found that neck circumference correlated well with both waist circumference and body mass index.
The researcher notes that the inclusion of neck circumference measurement in the procedures for diagnosing obesity in children may also be helpful in detecting the risk of sleep apnea, which is sometimes caused by the accumulation of fat.
Previous research by Dr. Nafiu found that young patients with a high BMI are more likely to experience some complications after surgery. They also take more time to wake up from anesthesia, as the ingredients of anesthetics accumulate in adipose tissue. In the future, the researcher intends to check whether measuring the circumference of the child’s neck before the surgery will help determine the risk of future problems (PAP).