Prevalence of being underweight and overweight and obesity at diagnosis in UK patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia 1985-2002

Aldhafiri, F.K., McColl, J.H. and Reilly, J.J. (2014) Prevalence of being underweight and overweight and obesity at diagnosis in UK patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia 1985-2002. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 27(1), pp. 76-79. (doi: 10.1111/jhn.12112)

Abstract

<p>Background: Being underweight or overweight and obesity at diagnosis may all worsen prognosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), although no studies have estimated the prevalence of an unhealthy weight status at diagnosis in large representative samples using contemporary definitions of weight status based on body mass index (BMI) for age.</p> <p>Methods: The present study comprised a retrospective study that aimed to estimate prevalence of being underweight and overweight and obesity at diagnosis for patients with childhood ALL on three successive UK treatment trials: UKALL X (1985–1990; n = 1033), UKALL XI (1990–1997; n = 2031), UKALL 97/99 (1997–2002; n = 898).The BMI for age was used to define weight status with both UK 1990 BMI for age reference data and the Cole-International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) definitions.</p> <p>Results: The prevalence of being underweight was 6% in the most recent trial for which data were available. The prevalence of being overweight and obesity was 35% in the most recent trial when expressed using Cole-IOTF definitions and 41% when expressed relative to UK 1990 reference data.</p> <p>Conclusions: Even with highly conservative estimates, >40% of all UK patients with ALL were underweight, overweight or obese at diagnosis in the most recent trial for which UK data are available (UKALL 97/99, 1997–2002).</p>

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McColl, Professor John
• Authors: Aldhafiri, F.K., McColl, J.H., and Reilly, J.J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics
• Journal Name: Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• ISSN: 0952-3871
• ISSN (Online): 1365-277X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 The British Dietetic Association Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher