Abstract
To identify which anthropometric measurement would be the best predictor of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Brazilian adolescents. Cross-sectional study conducted on 222 adolescents (15-17 years) from a city in southern Brazil. Anthropometric, physical activity, blood pressure and biochemical parameters were investigated. MetS criteria were transformed into a continuous variable (MetS score). Linear regression analyses were performed to assess the associations of BMI, hip circumference, neck circumference (NC), triceps skinfold, subscapular skinfold and body fat percentage with MetS score. ROC curves were constructed to determine the cutoff for each anthropometric measurement. The prevalence of MetS was 7.2%. Each anthropometric measurement was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with MetS score. After adjusting for potential confounding variables (age, sex, physical activity, and maternal education), the standardized coefficients of NC and body fat percentage appeared to have the strongest association (beta = 0.69 standard deviation) with MetS score. The regression of BMI provided the best model fit (adjusted R2 = 0.31). BMI predicted MetS with high sensitivity (100.0%) and specificity (86.4%). Our results suggest that BMI and NC are effective screening tools for MetS in adolescents. The early diagnosis of MetS combined with targeted lifestyle interventions in adolescence may help reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in adulthood.
Highlights
The prevalence of overweight and of its comorbidities have increased in adolescents and have reached epidemic proportions in both developed and developing countries [1]
No significant differences in age, sex, maternal education or physical activity were observed between adolescents with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS) (Table 1)
We observed that body mass index (BMI), hip circumference, neck circumference (NC), triceps skinfold, subscapular skinfold and BF% were associated with MetS score
Summary
The prevalence of overweight and of its comorbidities have increased in adolescents and have reached epidemic proportions in both developed and developing countries [1]. To the best of our knowledge, no study simultaneously compared six different anthropometric measurements (BMI, hip circumference, NC, triceps skinfold, subscapular skinfold and body fat percentage (BF%)) in the same population for the identification of MetS in Brazilian healthy adolescents. Assessments in this phase included anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, NC, triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness, and BF%), physical activity, biochemical analyses, and blood pressure measurement.
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