Evaluation of the relationship between neck circumference and obesity in primary school children

Obesity, which is a serious public health problem today, shows a rapid increase in childhood period. World Health Organization reports that, childhood obesity will increase by approximately 60% in the next ten years and reach 250 million by 2030. European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (WHO-COSI), survey Turkey 2013 and 2016 results showed that (7-8 years) the prevalance of overweight children were 14,2% and 14,4%, obesity were 8,3% and 9.7%, respectively. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the neck circumference measurement, which is a simple measurement, and obesity parameters in primary school children. A total of 113 children (boys: 61, 54,0%; girls: 52, 46,0%), aged 6,0-9,9 years were participated in the study. Anthropometric measurements (height, body weight, neck circumference etc.) were made in accordance with the techniques. The Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Screening Tool-FNPA (developed by: Ihmel ve ark.; Turkish validity and reliability: Özdemir et al.), Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children-PAQ-C (developed by: Kowalski et al; Turkish validity and reliability Emlek-Sert and Bayık-Temel) and Mediterranean Diet Adherence Index (KIDMED) (developed by: Serra-Majem et al; Turkish validity and reliability; Akar Şahingöz et al.) questionnaires were applied. The mean (±SD) age of the children was 8,0±1,00 years, body mass index (BMI) was 18,4±4,36 kg/m2 in boys and 17,6±3,86 kg/m2 in girls and neck circumference was 28,6±2,74 cm in boys and 27,4±2,09 cm in girls. According to BMI for age, 19,5% of all children (boys: 18,0%, girls: 21,2%) was overweight (≥1SD –<2SD) and 20,4% (boys: 24,6%, girls: 15,4%) was obese (≥2SD). The mean KIDMED score was 5,6±2,12 (B: 5,5±2,31, G: 5,8±1,88). Neck circumference was negatively correlated with the family nutrition and physical activity screening tool (r: -0.350) physical activity questionnaire (r:-0,301) and KIDMED (r: -0,248) scores. As the neck circumference increased, BMI (r: 0,810), waist circumference (r: 0,787), hip circumference (r:0,795), waist circumference/height ratio (r:0,649), mid-upper arm circumference (r: 0,777), triceps (r: 0,697) and subscapular (r: 0,672) skinfold thicknesses, body fat percentage (r:0,736), body fat mass (r: 0,643) and body fat amount (r:0,761) showed an increase except waist/hip ratio (p<0,05). This study shows that neck circumference measurement is highly correlated with other anthropometric measurements used to detect obesity. Therefore, neck circumference measurement, which is a practical, simple, fast and effective anthropometric measurement that can be used to detect childhood obesity.