兒童及青少年肥胖評估工具

Assessing Obesity in Children and Adolescents

身體組成的測量可以觀察身體的相關生長與疾病的狀態，臨床與研究上常運用各種測量方式以定義兒童及青少年肥胖。本文主要回顧實地測量方式，探討各種工具的運用與信、效度，並以臺灣實施現況加以討論，以期在未來可以正確地評估兒童及青少年肥胖。測量身體組成的方式包括實驗室檢查法與實地測量法，其中實地測量法包括重高指標與脂肪分佈的測量，而實地測量方式可以定義軀幹型肥胖與中央型肥胖，並且可以測量身體脂肪量。目前這些方法的使用有他們的缺點，所以在未來各國應該訂定符合各自的定義標準，而且醫療健康專業人員應該更深入了解各種評估工具的適用性，以便在未來可以更精確的評估兒童及青少年肥胖，以達到防治的目標。

Measuring body composition allows medical professionals to assess body growth and the status of various diseases. Various measurement methods are available to clinical and research to define obesity in children and adolescents. The aims of this paper were to exam the application, reliability, and validity of these methods and their current use in Taiwan in order to help ensure that obesity in children and adolescents is being assessed accurately and consistently. Measurement approaches may be categorized into laboratory and field methods. Field methods include weight-for-height indexes and fat distribution, which define total and central obesity and assess body fat level. These methods present limitations in use and have yet to be standardized in application. Healthcare professionals must better understand these methods to assess obesity in children and adolescents in order to recommend and implement appropriate prevention regimens.