| Keywords |
Children ; Body shape ; Degree of Obesity ; BMI ; Rohrer index |
| Abstract |
There is a need to explore the body shape of children, a basic physiologic anthropometry, in growing process. This study investigated the body shape of 2,197 children using three methods for body shape; K-Obesity index, Body Mass Index (BMI), and Rohrer index. Results revealed, first, the inconsistency in classifying body shapes (5 types from very skinny to obese) by the methods for body shape. Rohrer index showed the largest values in both weight and height for skinny and average body shape, than other two indexes. However for overweight and/or obese children, K-Obesity index showed the largest values of weight and height. Secondly, strong relationship between BMI and Rohrer index was observed across all types of body shapes, while positive relationship for overweight and obese types between K-Obesity index and BMI, and negative relationship for very skinny types and positive relationship for average and more obese types between K-Obesity index and Rohrer index. Finally, the strongest correlation was observed between K-Obesity index and weight, while negative relationship between Rohrer index and height. Careful caution is needed in classifying the body shapes using existing index, particularly in identifying overweight and obese children. |