General Practitioners Cannot Rely on Reported Weight and Height of Children

Overview

Journal Prim Health Care Res Dev

Publisher Cambridge University Press

Specialties Health Services
Public Health

Date 2018 Oct 9

PMID 30295233

Authors

Janneke van Leeuwen

Marienke van Middelkoop

Winifred D Paulis

Patrick J E Bindels

Bart W Koes

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the differences between reported and measured weight and height for underweight, normal-weight, and overweight children, particularly in a general practitioner setting.

Background: Screening, signaling, and treatment of childhood obesity by the general practitioner depends on accurate weight and height measurements.

Methods: Data on reported and measured weight and height from a cohort including 715 normal-weight and overweight children aged 2-17 were used. Means of reported and measured weight and height were compared using the paired T-test.

Findings: Of the 715 included children, 17.5% were defined as being underweight, 63.2% normal-weight, and 19.3% overweight according to direct measured height and weight. In the age group 2-8 years, parents of underweight children reported a significantly higher weight than measured weight [mean differences (MD) 0.32 kg (0.02, 0.62)], whereas parents of overweight young children reported a significantly lower weight [MD -1.08 kg (-1.77, -0.39)]. In the age group 9-17 years, normal-weight [MD -0.51 kg (-0.79, -0.23)] and overweight children [MD -1.28 kg (-2.08, -0.47)] reported a significantly lower weight than measured weight.

Conclusions: General practitioners cannot rely on reported weight and height measures from parents and children. In case of suspected under- or overweight in children, it should be advised to measure weight and height in general practice.

References

Cole T, Bellizzi M, Flegal K, Dietz W . Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. BMJ. 2000; 320(7244):1240-3. PMC: 27365. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.320.7244.1240. View

James P, Leach R, Kalamara E, Shayeghi M . The worldwide obesity epidemic. Obes Res. 2001; 9 Suppl 4:228S-233S. DOI: 10.1038/oby.2001.123. View

Stamatakis E, Primatesta P, Chinn S, Rona R, Falascheti E . Overweight and obesity trends from 1974 to 2003 in English children: what is the role of socioeconomic factors?. Arch Dis Child. 2005; 90(10):999-1004. PMC: 1720119. DOI: 10.1136/adc.2004.068932. View

Cole T, Flegal K, Nicholls D, Jackson A . Body mass index cut offs to define thinness in children and adolescents: international survey. BMJ. 2007; 335(7612):194. PMC: 1934447. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.39238.399444.55. View

de Onis M, Onyango A, Borghi E, Siyam A, Nishida C, Siekmann J . Development of a WHO growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents. Bull World Health Organ. 2007; 85(9):660-7. PMC: 2636412. DOI: 10.2471/blt.07.043497. View

Sherry B, Jefferds M, Grummer-Strawn L . Accuracy of adolescent self-report of height and weight in assessing overweight status: a literature review. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007; 161(12):1154-61. DOI: 10.1001/archpedi.161.12.1154. View

Dettori H, Elliott H, Horn J, Leong G . Barriers to the management of obesity in children - A cross sectional survey of GPs. Aust Fam Physician. 2009; 38(6):460-4. View

Gage H, Erdal E, Saigal P, Qiao Y, Williams P, Raats M . Recognition and management of overweight and obese children: a questionnaire survey of general practitioners and parents in England. J Paediatr Child Health. 2011; 48(2):146-52. DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2011.02058.x. View

Beck J, Schaefer C, Nace H, Steffen A, Nigg C, Brink L . Accuracy of self-reported height and weight in children aged 6 to 11 years. Prev Chronic Dis. 2012; 9:E119. PMC: 3457756. DOI: 10.5888/pcd9.120021. View

10.

Paulis W, van Middelkoop M, Bueving H, Luijsterburg P, van der Wouden J, Koes B . Determinants of (sustained) overweight and complaints in children and adolescents in primary care: the DOERAK cohort study design. BMC Fam Pract. 2012; 13:70. PMC: 3437208. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2296-13-70. View

11.

Rietmeijer-Mentink M, Paulis W, van Middelkoop M, Bindels P, van der Wouden J . Difference between parental perception and actual weight status of children: a systematic review. Matern Child Nutr. 2012; 9(1):3-22. PMC: 6860751. DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2012.00462.x. View

12.

Richardson L, Paulis W, van Middelkoop M, Koes B . An overview of national clinical guidelines for the management of childhood obesity in primary care. Prev Med. 2013; 57(5):448-55. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.08.010. View

13.

Gishti O, Kruithof C, Felix J, Raat H, Hofman A, Duijts L . Ethnic disparities in general and abdominal adiposity at school age: a multiethnic population-based cohort study in the Netherlands. Ann Nutr Metab. 2014; 64(3-4):208-17. DOI: 10.1159/000365022. View

14.

Paulis W, Palmer M, Chondros P, Kauer S, van Middelkoop M, Sanci L . Health profiles of overweight and obese youth attending general practice. Arch Dis Child. 2016; 102(5):434-439. DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2016-311404. View