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Defining Obesity Using a Biological End Point in Sri Lankan Children

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Abstract

Objective

To identify the percentage of body fat mass (FM) that would define obesity among Sri Lankan children.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 5–15 y old children in the district of Colombo. FM was assessed using Bio Impedance Assay (BIA). After a 12 h overnight fast, blood was drawn for fasting blood glucose (FBS) and lipid profile. Oral-glucose-tolerance test (OGTT) was done along with 2 h random blood sugar (RBS). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was diagnosed by a high waist circumference (WC) with ≥2 metabolic derangements [FBS/RBS, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP)]. Receiver-Operator Characteristics (ROCs) were drawn to determine the best %FM that predicted MetS.

Results

Nine hundred twenty children were studied (547 boys). Fifteen (1.6 %) had MetS. Ninety five (10.3 %) had two and 16(1.7 %) had ≥3 metabolic derangements. MetS in boys was associated with %FM of 28.6 (sensitivity 1.000; specificity 0.870) and in girls 33.7 (sensitivity 0.875; specificity 0.808).

Conclusions

FM associated with adverse health outcomes in this population is comparable to other available data. A %FM of 28.6 % for boys and 33.7 % for girls would be acceptable cutoff limits.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to all children and their parents for participating in this study. Also they are grateful to Ms. Amara S de S Wijerathna and Ms. A. U. A. Gunawardhana of the Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Mr. S.D.D. Dissanayake of the Department of Paediatrics, University of Colombo in analyzing the blood samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka

    Vithanage Pujitha Wickramasinghe, Priyantha Bandara, Mithila Abeysekera, Suran Kuruppu, Prasanna Dilshan & Buddhini Samanthi Dissanayake

  2. Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka

    Carukshi Arambepola

Authors
  1. Vithanage Pujitha Wickramasinghe
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  2. Carukshi Arambepola
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  3. Priyantha Bandara
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  4. Mithila Abeysekera
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  5. Suran Kuruppu
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  6. Prasanna Dilshan
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  7. Buddhini Samanthi Dissanayake
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vithanage Pujitha Wickramasinghe.

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Contributions

VPW: Conceived, designed, carried out the study, analysed the data and wrote the manuscript; CA: Designed the study, analysed the data and wrote the manuscript; PB: Designed, carried out the study and wrote the manuscript; MA, SK, PD and BSD: Carried out the study, analysed the data and wrote the manuscript. VPW will act as guarantor for the paper.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Source of Funding

This study was carried out through an educational grant from Anchor Institute, to University of Colombo.

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Wickramasinghe, V.P., Arambepola, C., Bandara, P. et al. Defining Obesity Using a Biological End Point in Sri Lankan Children. Indian J Pediatr 84, 117–123 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-016-2191-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-016-2191-2

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