Predictive ability of anthropometric indices in identifying metabolic syndrome among US adolescents 10 to 19 years old: Analysis from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011 to 2018 data set

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify the best anthropometric indices for predicting metabolic syndrome in US adolescents. MethodsA cross-sectional study analyzed data of adolescents ages 10 to 19 y using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011 to 2018 data. The receiver operating characteristic areas under the curve (AUCs) of waist circumference z score, body roundness index, body mass index, and A Body Shape Index in identifying predicting metabolic syndrome were assessed. Furthermore, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and positive and negative likelihood ratios of all anthropometric indices were calculated. ResultsA total of 5496 adolescents were included in the analysis. Waist circumference z score had an AUC of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.89–0.91), sensitivity of 95.0% (95% CI, 89.4–98.1), and specificity of 74.8% (95% CI, 73.6, 76.0). Body roundness index had an AUC of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.87–0.89), sensitivity of 96.7% (95% CI, 91.7–99.1), and specificity of 75.2% (95% CI, 74.1–76.4). Body mass index z score had an AUC of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.81–0.85), sensitivity of 97.5% (95% CI, 92.9–99.5), and specificity of 68.2% (95% CI, 66.9–69.4). A Body Shape Index had an AUC of 0.59 (95% CI, 0.56–0.61), sensitivity of 75.0% (95% CI, 66.3–82.5), and specificity of 50.9% (95% CI, 49.5–52.2). ConclusionsOur study found waist circumference z score and body roundness index were the best predictors of predicting metabolic syndrome compared with body mass index z score and A Body Shape Index in both boys and girls. We recommend that future studies develop global cutoff points for these anthropometric indices and examine their performance in a multi-country setting.