Neck circumference as a novel screening method for estimating fat distribution and metabolic complications in obese children

Background: Neck circumference (NC) has been shown to be an indicator of upper-body subcutaneous adipose tissue distribution. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between NC with pattern of fat distribution of obese children, hypertension, abnormal lipid profile and presence of insulin resistance. Methods: A cross sectional case-control study was conducted on 50 obese subjects (27 male, 23 female), body mass index (BMI) ⩾95th percentile for age and sex, aged 7–12 years and 50 healthy children (25 male, 25 female), BMI 15th to <85th percentile, age and sex matched as a control group. All children were subjected to history taking, complete clinical examination, blood pressure (BP), and anthropometric assessment (weight, height, BMI, NC, waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC), biceps; triceps and sub scapular skin fold thickness); and fasting blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile estimation. Results: All studied anthropometric parameters; including NC, were significantly higher in obese than control for total sample, males and females separately. The obese subjects also, showed statistically significantly higher low density lipoproteins (LDL), cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), glucose, insulin and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). A significant positive correlation was recorded between NC and weight, height, BMI, WC, HC, triceps skin fold and diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion: NC is a valuable predictor for body fat distribution among obese children either central (WC and HC) or peripheral (triceps skin fold). It should be used as a screening tool in population-based studies.