Individual Metabolic Syndrome Criterion, Elevated C-reactive Protein And Physical Activity In U.s. Adolescents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Estimate the prevalence of individual metabolic syndrome (MetS) criterion, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), and volumes of self-reported physical activity (PA) using a representative sample of U.S. adolescents. METHODS: The study sample (n=676) included male and female adolescents 12-17 years of age who participated in the 2007-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The cardio-metabolic risk factors analyzed were based on a modified definition of MetS using the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. Prevalence of meeting the federal PA recommendation for adolescents was estimated using the reported days per week and minutes per day of moderate and vigorous recreational PA. RESULTS: The MetS criteria with the highest and lowest overall prevalence estimates were elevated fasting glucose and elevated blood pressure (20.7% and 5.7%, respectively). The overall prevalence of elevated CRP was 7.1% (6.3% in males; 7.8% in females). The overall prevalence of not meeting the current PA recommendations for adolescents was 75.0%. Mexican American and Other/Multi-Racial females had the greatest prevalence of not meeting the daily PA recommendation (91.3% and 91.7%, respectively) CONCLUSION: In a representative sample of U.S. adolescents, elevated fasting glucose is the most prevalent individual MetS criterion. Estimates indicate that seven out of 10 U.S. adolescents have elevated CRP, and three out four U.S. adolescents do not meet the federal PA recommendations.