Anthropometric measurements in Canadian children: A scoping review.

Abstract

Objective The objective of the current study was identifying what forms of anthropometric measurement are currently being utilized with Canadian children and youth and what are the gaps in the literature on this topic. Method The current study utilized a scoping review methodology in order to achieve the study objectives. Online databases Medline and PubMed and CINAHLwere used to search articles from the last decade (2002-2012) that addressed Canadian children aged 2 years-18 years. Synthesis 50 studies were included in this review. A variety of anthropometric measurements were identified including body mass index, waist circumference, hip-to-waist ratio among others. Six of the included studies (12%) utilized nationally representative data from large scale studies. BMI was the most reported form of measurement with 88% of studies colleting it. Waist circumference was a distant second with 20% of studies reporting it. Several gaps in the literature exist, with regards to First Nations (FN) research, many of the measurement methods were not used. Additionally FN accounted for only 2.5% of the study’s sample. The majority of studies took place in Quebec (29%) and Ontario (27%). Conclusion Body mass index is the most reported method of anthropometric measurement used for children. Efforts should be taken by health care practitioners and researchers to collect other forms of measurement in order to assist in understanding the validity of other measures and their value when used with children. Furthermore, attention needs to be put into utilizing and studying various forms of anthropometric measurement across all Canadian regions and populations.