Fung K P, Lee J, Lau S P, Chow O K, Wong T W, Davis D P
Department of Paediatrics, National University Hospital, Republic of Singapore.
Arch Dis Child. 1990 May;65(5):516-9. doi: 10.1136/adc.65.5.516.
The properties of body mass indices were evaluated in a cross sectional study of the weights and heights of 5016 Chinese boys and girls aged between 3 and 18 years. Of the indices examined (weight/height (W/H), weight/height2 (W/H2), weight/height3 (W/H3) and weight/heightp (W/Hp], W/Hp was the only one that consistently showed least correlation with height, and so could be regarded as the optimal body mass index by the criterion of independence of the index from height. The exponent 'p' of W/Hp is, however, highly dependent on age; the value increases steadily between the age of 3 and 7-9 years, and then varies considerably around puberty. Only the age specific exponent ensures a lack of correlation between body mass index (W/Hp) and height. Age specific W/Hp should therefore be used in intrapopulation studies of weight or problems associated with obesity in children. Interpopulation comparison of weight and adiposity by W/H, W/H2, or W/H3 may give misleading results because of their dependence on height. Our results also suggest that the conventional weight for height charts may not be accurate enough for clinical use.
在一项对5016名3至18岁中国男孩和女孩的体重与身高进行的横断面研究中，对身体质量指数的特性进行了评估。在所检查的指数（体重/身高（W/H）、体重/身高²（W/H²）、体重/身高³（W/H³）和体重/身高ᵖ（W/Hᵖ））中，W/Hᵖ是唯一一个始终与身高显示出最小相关性的指数，因此根据该指数与身高的独立性标准，可被视为最佳身体质量指数。然而，W/Hᵖ的指数“p”高度依赖于年龄；该值在3岁至7 - 9岁之间稳步增加，然后在青春期前后有相当大的变化。只有特定年龄的指数才能确保身体质量指数（W/Hᵖ）与身高之间缺乏相关性。因此，在儿童体重或肥胖相关问题的人群内部研究中应使用特定年龄的W/Hᵖ。由于W/H、W/H²或W/H³对身高的依赖性，通过它们进行人群间体重和肥胖程度的比较可能会得出误导性结果。我们的结果还表明，传统的身高体重对照表可能不够准确，无法用于临床。
