Waist-To-Sitting Height Ratio as A Predictor of Cardiometabolic Risk in Children: A Comparative Analysis with Body Mass Index

Introduction: Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern, contributing to an increased risk of metabolic disorders. Traditional measures like body mass index (BMI) have limitations in assessing central adiposity. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) has emerged as a superior predictor of cardiometabolic risk. This study aims to evaluate WHtR as a screening tool compared to BMI in identifying obesity-related health risks in children. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among school-aged children. Anthropometric data, including height, weight, and waist circumference, were collected. WHtR and BMI were calculated and analyzed for their correlation with cardiometabolic risk factors such as blood pressure and lipid profiles. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the predictive accuracy of WHtR and BMI. Results: WHtR demonstrated a stronger correlation with metabolic risk markers compared to BMI. ROC analysis showed that WHtR had a higher area under the curve (AUC), indicating better predictive ability. A WHtR cutoff of 0.5 effectively identified children at risk. Conclusion: WHtR is a simple, effective, and superior screening tool for identifying children at risk of obesity-related complications. Its adoption in routine health assessments may improve early detection and intervention strategies.