A recent study reveals that measurement of circumference of the neck of a child can be instrumental in screening of youngsters who may be obese.

In the study the researchers calculated the size of the neck of more than 1,100 youths between the ages of 6 and 18. They discovered that neck circumference accurately identified a large number of young children and teenagers who are obese.

The researchers disclosed in a statement regarding the study that this easy method may provide a better identification of obesity as body mass index (BMI) is not accurate in describing distribution of deep stomach fat or abdominal fat.

The BMI is measured by employing the calculating of height and weight. The BMI charts consider the sex and age of children.

Olubukola Nafiu, MD, and his co-worker from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, calculated the cutoffs based on age and sex measurements to identify the children who suffer from obesity.

The researchers came to the conclusion that that neck circumference is an accurate method of screening youngsters who have a high body mass index. A flexible tape was employed to calculate the neck circumference. Also, this technique was more accurate in case of boys.