Screening for overweight using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) among children younger than two years in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Background: The relationship between overweight and under-nutrition, particularly in resource-poor settings, poses practical challenges for targeting nutrition interventions. Current anthropometric indicators including weight for length (WLZ) recommended by the WHO may be challenging in community se...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-04-01
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| Series: | The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2020.1782027 |
| _version_ | 1797678786001502208 |
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| author | Shawn McLaren Liana Steenkamp H David McCarthy Alexandra Rutishauser-Perera |
| author_facet | Shawn McLaren Liana Steenkamp H David McCarthy Alexandra Rutishauser-Perera |
| author_sort | Shawn McLaren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The relationship between overweight and under-nutrition, particularly in resource-poor settings, poses practical challenges for targeting nutrition interventions. Current anthropometric indicators including weight for length (WLZ) recommended by the WHO may be challenging in community settings. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess whether MUAC can accurately identify children aged younger than two years with overweight and obesity. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was used to collect data from a non-probability sample of 397 young South African children from October 2015 to February 2016. MUAC cut-off values were tested using a receiver operating characteristic and area under the curve (AUC). Results: The prevalence of overweight (WLZ > +2) and obesity (WLZ > +3) was 11% (n = 44) and 5% (21) respectively. A MUAC cut-off value for identifying male children 6 to 24 months old with overweight was determined at 16.5 cm (85% sensitivity, 71.4% specificity, AUC = 0.821) and female children at 16.5 cm (100% sensitivity, 76.6% specificity, AUC = 0.938). Conclusions: MUAC may be an appropriate tool for identifying children younger than two years old with overweight and obesity. The predicted MUAC cut-off values were able to identify infants and young children with overweight accurately. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:04:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e32f4c940a6640d59705bf2642d92abb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1607-0658 2221-1268 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:04:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-e32f4c940a6640d59705bf2642d92abb2023-09-21T13:38:26ZengTaylor & Francis GroupThe South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition1607-06582221-12682022-04-01351131610.1080/16070658.2020.17820271782027Screening for overweight using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) among children younger than two years in the Eastern Cape, South AfricaShawn McLaren0Liana Steenkamp1H David McCarthy2Alexandra Rutishauser-Perera3Dietetics Department, Nelson Mandela UniversityHIV & AIDS Research Unit, Nelson Mandela UniversityDietetics Department, Nelson Mandela UniversityAction Against Hunger UKBackground: The relationship between overweight and under-nutrition, particularly in resource-poor settings, poses practical challenges for targeting nutrition interventions. Current anthropometric indicators including weight for length (WLZ) recommended by the WHO may be challenging in community settings. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess whether MUAC can accurately identify children aged younger than two years with overweight and obesity. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was used to collect data from a non-probability sample of 397 young South African children from October 2015 to February 2016. MUAC cut-off values were tested using a receiver operating characteristic and area under the curve (AUC). Results: The prevalence of overweight (WLZ > +2) and obesity (WLZ > +3) was 11% (n = 44) and 5% (21) respectively. A MUAC cut-off value for identifying male children 6 to 24 months old with overweight was determined at 16.5 cm (85% sensitivity, 71.4% specificity, AUC = 0.821) and female children at 16.5 cm (100% sensitivity, 76.6% specificity, AUC = 0.938). Conclusions: MUAC may be an appropriate tool for identifying children younger than two years old with overweight and obesity. The predicted MUAC cut-off values were able to identify infants and young children with overweight accurately.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2020.1782027double burden of diseasefirst 1000 daysmuacobesity |
| spellingShingle | Shawn McLaren Liana Steenkamp H David McCarthy Alexandra Rutishauser-Perera Screening for overweight using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) among children younger than two years in the Eastern Cape, South Africa The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition double burden of disease first 1000 days muac obesity |
| title | Screening for overweight using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) among children younger than two years in the Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_full | Screening for overweight using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) among children younger than two years in the Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Screening for overweight using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) among children younger than two years in the Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Screening for overweight using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) among children younger than two years in the Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_short | Screening for overweight using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) among children younger than two years in the Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_sort | screening for overweight using mid upper arm circumference muac among children younger than two years in the eastern cape south africa |
| topic | double burden of disease first 1000 days muac obesity |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2020.1782027 |
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