Association of body mass index and waist circumference with metabolic alterations in children from Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with metabolic abnormalities in children attending schools in the city of Arandas.Methods180 children were included through a multistage and random sampling. A personal interview was conducted, and measurements of weight, height (to calculate BMI; kg/m2) and WC were collected. Total cholesterol (TC), HDL, LDL, VLDL, triglycerides, glucose and insulin were determined in blood samples; HOMA was calculated. Mean values of biochemical parameters were compared according to the presence of overweight, obesity or abdominal obesity. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Guadalajara.ResultsMean age 8.1 ± 2.3 years, 52.2% male. Overweight in 21.7% and obesity in 6.7%; 8.4% with abdominal obesity (WC>; 75th percentile). We identified significant differences in all biochemical parameters (except TC) in children with normal weight vs. overweight or obesity; and with the presence of abdominal obesity (except for LDL and glucose). A positive correlation (negative for HDL) of BMI with all variables except glucose was found; WC correlated positively with VLDL, triglycerides, glucose, insulin and HOMA.ConclusionsBMI shows better association with metabolic abnormalities in this group of school children with a low prevalence of abdominal obesity.