About the initiative
The World Health Organization (WHO) is working on comprehensive guidelines to address obesity in children and adolescents through an integrated, primary health care strategy that respects their varied backgrounds and aims to improve health, functioning and reduce obesity-related disabilities. The WHO’s International Classification of Diseases ICD-11, a global diagnostic tool for diseases, classifies obesity as a chronic condition characterized by excessive fat accumulation that can harm health, yet there is no universal standard for gauging excess fat in young people due to differing measurement techniques and body fat characteristics.
Accurate youth obesity diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis of obesity in youth is critical to prevent long-term health effects and to avoid the repercussions of misdiagnosis, such as stigmatization and mental health issues. With the widespread obesity crisis and available treatments, there is a pressing need to accurately determine the presence and severity of obesity in individuals and populations.
Measuring comprehensively and precisely
While BMI is the common indirect indicator of body fat used by the WHO, it is recognized as an imperfect measure because it cannot differentiate between fat and muscle mass. In clinical practice, more precise methods like skinfold thickness, DXA, and BIA could offer a more accurate assessment of fat composition, even though such methods are more complex and less practical for large populations. A diagnostic test accuracy systematic review evaluates how well a test can identify a condition. These reviews cover a wide range of health issues, encompassing both well-defined diseases and conditions with available treatments, and consider various types of diagnostic methods.
Role of the Evidence Center
The Texas A&M Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Evidence Center will complete a diagnostic test accuracy systematic review that aims to evaluate the precision of BMI-for-age and sex as well as other tests, or their combinations, for identifying excess adiposity and classifying obesity severity in infants, children and adolescents globally. These results will be of key relevance to support the normative work of WHO in the integrated management of children and adolescents with obesity in all their diversity for improved health, functioning and reduced obesity-associated disabilities.