Body mass index percentiles for Turkish children aged 0-84 months.

BACKGROUND: Reference body mass index (BMI) percentiles are needed to follow secular changes in Turkish children aged 0-84 months. Obesity prevalence in this age group is also not well documented. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine BMI percentiles and the prevalences of overweight and obesity in Turkish children aged 0-84 months. The authors also tried to compare actual BMI status with World Health Organization (WHO) standards. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study used data from the Anthropometry of Turkish Children aged 0-6 years (ATCA-06) study. This cross-sectional study, conducted from September 2009 to May 2010 in Kayseri, Turkey, included 2683 children (1359 girls, 1324 boys) aged 0-84 months. Centile curves were constructed using the LMS method. RESULTS: It was found that BMI percentiles of Turkish children were higher than WHO standards in early childhood. The overweight and obesity prevalences were identical in both genders, 10.0% and 4.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study provides both BMI reference values and prevalence figures for overweight and obesity in children aged 0-84 months, residing in Kayseri city, in Turkey. It is believed that these data can be of use in following secular changes as well as for comparisons with international standards.

Reference body mass index curves for Turkish children 6 to 18 years of age.

AIM: To determine reference body mass index (BMI) curves for Turkish children 6 to 18 years old and to compare with BMI in other countries. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted in Kayseri, Turkey. A total of 5,727 children (2,942 girls, 2,785 boys) aged between 6 and 18 years were selected to construct a reference curve using LMS method. RESULTS: BMI age reference charts of Turkish children were constructed. The 50th percentile curve of Turkish girls is lower than Italian and Turkish girls in The Netherlands but higher than Iranian girls. The 50th percentile curve of Turkish boys is lower than Italian and Turkish boys in The Netherlands and similar to Iranian boys after 13 years of age. CONCLUSION: BMI references of Turkish children are lower than in South East Europe, UK and North American populations, but higher than in Central European and Scandinavian countries.