Spotting the obese infant
1. To date there is no generally accepted ‘means for the quantitative characterisation’ (for want of a better expression) for an obese infant.
A gain in weight by a six months old infant that exceeds 5.34 kilograms (11.748 pounds) was proposed by P.B.Crawford and his associates (Am.J.Clin.Nutr.27:706, 1974) to be the best index for obesity at that age.
[Note: The limitations of such an index in the context of obesity prevention {see Obesity simplex: Infant obesity (1)} are obvious].
2. Perhaps a significant discrepancy between length (height) and weight (as compared with established growth charts) is of more practical use.
The following figures for boys read from one such chart (Am.J.Clin.Nutr. 32: 607-629, 1979) will be used to illustrate this:
a) Age: 3 months
b) Length (height) range: 57 to 65 centimetres (22.44 to 25.59 inches).
c) Weight range: 4.318 to 7.27 kilograms (9.5 to 16 pounds)
Example1.
Assessing weight status for a 3 months old boy (George)
d) Age: 3 months
e) Length (height) = 58 centimetres
[Note: This is near the bottom of the range]
f) Weight = 7 kilograms
[Note: This is near the top of the range]
Conclusion:
George may be considered obese.
Example2.
Assessing weight status for a 3 months old boy (James)
g) Age: 3 months
h) Length (height) = 64 centimetres
[Note: This is near the top of the range]
i) Weight = 7.25 kilograms
[Note: This is near the top of the range]
Conclusion:
James may be considered not to be obese.
[Note:
a) There are many growth charts and there are slight differences here and there.
b) When used as illustrated in the examples above they are just as good as each other].
